Public university students will return to campus starting March 1

Students of public higher education institutions can finally return to campus in stages beginning March 1, announced Senior Defense Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein. Depending on each institution’s capacities, the allowed number of students will range from 70 to 100 percent.
 
The decision was made on Tuesday during the COVID-19 quartet ministerial meeting that addressed proposals made by the Higher Education Ministry regarding students’ admission and their return to public and private higher education institutions, polytechnics, and community colleges.
 
He said: "Based on the Higher Education Ministry and the Health Ministry's standard operating procedures (SOP), students and staff with complete and incomplete vaccination status were allowed to be on campus.”

He also added that individuals with incomplete vaccination status are required to present negative results (RT-PCR* tests) three days before their return to campus, and that they “need to take the RTK-Ag** test once a week”.

On the other hand, existing and new international students are only allowed entry once they have completed their vaccinations with a mandatory quarantine period of 7 days. 

Those who have received their booster dose only need to undergo a 5-day quarantine.

Although most students can finally resume in-person classes, all higher education institutions must have enough space to accommodate students in physical classes while adhering to the SOP.

Hence, universities are still allowed to conduct hybrid or online classes as they see fit. 

He also added that recreational and sports activities on campus must comply with the SOP.

Meanwhile, the National Recovery Council is in talks to open Malaysian borders. If given the green light, international students will get to enter Malaysia without going through the mandatory quarantine, under specific conditions. You can learn more about them here.

*RT-PCR or Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction is a molecular test that detects a virus’ genetic material to determine whether a person is infected with COVID-19. This test usually has high accuracy rates.

**RTK-Ag or Rapid Test Kit Antigen is an antigen test that detects specific proteins from the virus. Despite having high accuracy rates, false negatives can occur, resulting in the need for the RT-PCR test.

Both tests require a nasal or throat swab.

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