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The announcement was made by Malaysia’s Deputy Education Minister, Datuk Chong Sin Woon this week.
The decision, made in response to a call by the National Union of Heads of Schools, will allow teachers and students to come back one day later and avoid what is likely to be significant highway traffic congestion.
“I have received feedback from some headmasters that their application for the special holiday has been rejected, so I talked to the director-general of education and we have decided to let them apply,” Chong told reporters.
Earlier, Chong had been made aware that certain state education departments were yet to approve some applications for the additional day off, but said this had since been resolved.
“I have talked to the education director-general and now these applications will be approved. Generally, every school can apply for four days of cuti peristiwa [occasional holiday], which need not be replaced.”
In Malaysia, all schools are entitled to four days of special holidays each year.
The first day of Chinese New Year falls on Friday February 16, and schools which apply for the occasional holiday will resume classes on Tuesday February 20.
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