In a joint report, the Center for Market Education (CME) and Bait Al Amanah said this is why discussions for a safe reopening of schools should begin immediately to prevent further mass learning loss due to school closures.
CME chief executive Carmelo Ferlito said the RM80 billion figure is based on the Asian Development Bank’s regional estimate that a day of school closures results in a 5.4% loss to a country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
This loss to GDP is measured by the lower earning capabilities of graduates because their studies have been disrupted.
In Malaysia, this 5.4% would amount to RM80 billion of the estimated RM1.4 trillion GDP in 2021.
Last year, schools were closed for three months during the first MCO, and again for a period of time in certain states where a high number of Covid-19 cases were reported.
This year, schools have been closed since the Hari Raya break in early May.
Though various initiatives have been launched to help overcome the closure of schools and learning institutions, including online learning and televised lessons, there have been concerns over access to these options, particularly among rural students and those in the B40 group.
Ferlito said school closures seem to be a “disproportionately heavy measure” as the Covid-19 death rate among students is low, while there are also studies indicating that closing schools has not been significantly important in curbing the spread of the virus.
He said the risk could be minimised with fewer radical measures such as providing mass and frequent Covid-19 testing for students each week.
“This weekly approach will allow early detection and isolation of positive cases by preventing asymptomatic contagions and the development of heavy symptoms,” he said.
This programme, he said, could be financially sustainable thanks to the introduction of rapid testing.
Ferlito also said future school closures should be decided on a case-by-case basis and on the ground backed up by scientific evidence.
He said engagement with health officials is crucial as they could advise authorities on the reopening of schools by using scientific evidence as a basis to mitigate the risks of Covid-19 transmission.
“The education authorities must also consider an inclusive approach to reduce disparities among students once schools begin reopening to address the inequalities created by the lockdown and school closures,” he said.
He said creative measures should also be introduced to keep schools open, such as creating larger spaces, outdoor schooling, protective bubbles and effective communication.
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