NUTP secretary-general Harry Tan said the education ministry must review the safety measures for teachers who have to conduct lessons in person for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia and Sijil Vokasional Malaysia students.

The union was responding to reports that 11 teachers in Terengganu tested positive for Covid-19, claiming that these teachers were instructed to attend a face-to-face course on conducting home-based learning.

Expressing his disappointment with what had happened, he said the Kuala Terengganu district education office had been overzealous in ordering the teachers to be physically present for the course and this resulted in the spread of Covid-19 among them.

Tan also questioned if the district office was aware of the Covid-19 situation at the time and if standard operating procedures were complied with during the course.

“NUTP urges the education ministry to prepare PPEs for teachers in Malaysia so that their safety and health can be ensured,” he said in a statement.

Tan said there must also be a uniform schedule to be issued for all schools, claiming that some teachers had been forced to teach from 7.30am to 4.30pm.

“The official hours for the learning session is from 7.30am to 2.30pm, whereas 2.30pm to 4.30pm is for additional classes, which are outside official hours.”

He said both teachers and students needed to be given the space and time to carry out their own recreational activities, adding that spending too much time on lessons would be demotivating to both.