Cross-border restrictions between Malaysia and Singapore affect Malaysian students studying in Singapore. At present, 430 Malaysian students are unable to go to Singapore to attend classes, which is about 1/3 of the total number of students who travel between Malaysia and Singapore every day. Some parents interviewed worry that their children’s long-term absence from school may affect their progress in school.
Chen Meiqi’s children had to prepare to cross the Johor Causeway to Singapore for classes at 4 am every day. But since Malaysia implemented a movement control order on March 18, her children can only study at home in Johor. She said that because children cannot take the exam through the Internet, she is worried that they will not have any problems entering the college next year.
Hong Weixiu, a first-year Malaysian student at Junior College, was also affected by border restrictions. He started renting a house in Singapore in June and moved to rent a house temporarily. During Hong Weixiu’s stay in Malaysia, the school teachers helped him keep up with the progress through different online platforms.
“They (teachers) have already recorded some classrooms through some online platforms, so that I can understand this knowledge, so that I can keep up with my classmates when I return to school.”
Chen Yichuan, vice principal of the Catholic Junior College, said that the school is more concerned about Hong Weixiu’s physical and mental health, so teachers usually call or send an email to greet the progress of the study. On the other hand, Singapore Education stated that most of the Malaysian students attending higher education institutions have returned to Singapore to attend classes.
Parents are worried that students who originally crossed the Long Causeway from Malaysia to Singapore to attend classes are subject to cross-border restrictions, and long-term absences may affect their studies. The Ministry of Education of Singapore responded that under the new crown virus epidemic, schools will decide whether to allow students to enter a higher education based on their academic performance.