Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto said that SJK(C) Keng Koon had reported 16 cases, involving 15 students and one teacher.

Despite that, Kasthuri said the Seberang Perai Selatan district Education Department has said there was no need to close the school.

She cited several other schools which were asked to close for reporting Covid-19 cases in the past, including Sekolah Kebangsaan Sultan Sulaiman 1 in Kuala Terengganu and the Tun Fatimah Form Six College in Melaka.

“I concur with the Penang state government’s stand asking the education ministry to consider the closure of schools with active Covid-19 cases.”

She said there was a need for both the health and education ministries to be consistent in giving out instructions involving school closures, with clear guidelines on the matter.

Meanwhile, education minister Radzi Jidin said they will not hastily order the closure of schools as a proper risk analysis and assessment must first be conducted by the authorities.

He said whether the closure is full or partial, it would be implemented only on the advice of the district health office.

“In this context, if the local Health Department decides that a certain class must be closed, then we will close that class.

“Likewise, should they say a certain floor of the building needs to be closed, then we will do that,” Bernama reported him as saying.

It is important for all parties to understand that the ministry works closely with a professional team to ensure that school sessions run smoothly, he added.