Back To The Lecture Hall For Over 6 000 Iium Students

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IIUM students returned to their Gombak campus today, with everyone given a Covid-19 self-test kit.PETALING JAYA: A total of 6,872 International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) students returned to campus today amid tight registration procedures at its four campuses in Gombak, Kuantan, Pagoh and Kuala Lumpur.
Its rector Dzulkifli Abdul Razak said the students who returned comprised those involved with study activities in the studio, laboratories as well as workshops.
He added there were also students returning because they have limited accessibility to education in their homes.
The reopening of higher learning institutions nationwide today is in line with the announcement by the higher education ministry allowing students to return to their campuses in stages.
Dzulkifli said the varsity had sanitised all its residences in preparation for the return of its students.
Not only that, he added, IIUM also created a quarantine block as a precautionary measure in the event any cases were detected.
“The university also distributed 27,044 Covid-19 self-test kits in each IIUM campus to be used during the registration process,” he said when met at the Gombak campus today.
Dzulkifli also hoped the restoration of face-to-face learning will close the gap between urban and rural students, particularly those who stayed in the interior and had to resort to online classes previously.
“We want everything to be equal in education. This (online learning) makes it difficult, especially if they live in remote villages.
“When this happens, we will face problems. After returning to school, those equipped with the facilities will progress but those without internet facilities will be left behind.
“That’s why we feel face-to-face learning is more important,” he added.
He felt that online learning caused a division in terms of the quality of students.
“Only with students coming back will we be able to find out about those who are left behind and those who have made progress. To streamline this is not so easy.
“That is why we tried to convince the ministry to reinstate the face-to-face learning sessions,” Dzulkifli said.
Meanwhile, student Ahmad Rusydi Muhammad told FMT that he was excited to be given the opportunity to return to his campus after months of studying from home.
“The campus environment makes it easier for me to learn. There is Wifi in the campus and it doesn’t get interrupted compared with the internet service back home,” said Ahmad, who is studying Islamic revealed knowledge and human sciences.
He also reminded fellow students to make use of every opportunity now that they are back in campus, without forgetting to observe the SOPs.
Computer science student, Ainul Mardhiah Muhammad Rafiq felt the same way, saying all students must follow the rules fixed by the university so that the community will remain safe from any infection. - FMT

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