CORONAVIRUS | The government has announced that preschools will be allowed to reopen on July 1.

Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this was decided in the special ministers meeting after being briefed on the standard operating procedures (SOP) concerned.

There are 6,216 pre-schools registered under the Education Ministry, 7,887 private, 1,781 under the Unity Ministry and 8,530 pre-schools or tabika under the Community Development Department (Kemas) of the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.

However, details of the SOP will be announced by the Education Ministry at a later date, Ismail said.

This comes after Education Minister Mohd Radzi Md Jidin last Wednesday announced that students taking national examinations are set to return to school on June 24.

This comprises students in public examination classes across the country, such as Malaysian Education Certificate (SPM), Malaysian Vocational Certificate (SVM), Malaysian Higher Education Certificate (STPM), and Malaysian Higher Islamic Religious Certificate (STAM), as well as equivalent international examinations.

As for the resumption of non-exam classes, he had stated that schools would be reopened in stages and that any decision would be announced by the ministry at a later time.