Virtual classroom: Classes went on despite the haze

However, one school did not let the closure be a hindrance towards continuous learning.

The classrooms of Cempaka Schools may be empty on Monday and Tuesday (October 5 and 6), but teachers and students continue to ‘meet’ in the virtual world.

Cempaka Schools Director of Development Hisham Hamzah explained that it had activated its virtual learning programme - called Cempaka@Home - due to the haze situation.

“Lessons are still followed based on the normal daily timetable and students flock online using video conferencing, online discussions, interactive quizzes and assignments,” he told Astro AWANI.

The virtual learning at Cempaka Schools was made available with Schoology, an easy-to-use, easy-to-implement online learning, classroom management, and social networking platform that improves the learning experience for teachers and students.

It also encourages and facilitates parental engagement in the education process.

“The greatest benefit of Schoology is the stronger connections and collaboration it fosters among teachers, students and parents,” he said.

When Cempaka Schools activated the Cempaka@Home programme, Hisham said most classes recorded full attendance.

“If there are students who are not online, the tutors are to contact the parents,” he said.

Reactions from teachers, students and parents were positive while teachers said it made learning more exciting and different.

"Cempaka@Home is ideal and effective. My students adapt well and just like a regular classroom session, they must be well-prepared for the lessons," said Cempaka Cheras campus A-Level teacher Darlene D'Cruz.

Cempaka International School Damansara Heights English Literature teacher Jasmine Delaviz was quick to add, "My students find the lessons exciting and different. They appreciate the variety."

A student, Miza Batrisyia Helmy, said the Cempaka@School programme felt like a normal school day.

"It's just like going to school on a normal day because I have to sign in to my "classroom" from the comfort of my home!

"When I told my friends about Cempaka@Home programme in other schools in Malaysia and other countries, they said that they do not have such programme in their schools,” said Miza Batrisyia.

One parent said that the Cempaka@Home programme works well during unforseen circumstances.

"I absolute love Cempaka@Home simply because, as a working parent, I am at ease knowing my child is in a virtual classroom, doing assignments and learning with the presence of a teacher and her friends.

"Cempaka@Home is a fantastic education solution, where you are seamlessly connected anywhere, anytime and it works extremely well during unforeseen circumstances,” said Wan Edna Melati

This programme was first created in the aftermath of the SARS outbreak in 2003 and first implemented during the H1N1 scare in 2009

Education Ministry had closed 4,561 schools from nine states, involving 2,617,432 students as the API reading breached the unhealthy and very unhealthy levels since Sept 15 until Sept 30.

The nine states involved were Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Putrjaya Federal Territory, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Pahang, Johor, Sarawak and Perak.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said schools closed due to the haze need not have their classes replaced.