The national parent-teacher association (PIBGN) president Mohamad Ali Hasan said the education ministry should instead focus on the vaccination efforts of all teachers and school staff, instead of focusing on school reopenings.
“October is only a few weeks away and the number of cases are still high, so just commence face-to-face learning sessions next year.
“The focus now must be on vaccinations for the school community, namely teachers and examination students,” he said, adding that the education ministry should also work closely with the health ministry to vaccinate students.
“Come to every school, give them the vaccine as soon as possible to make schools safer. The education ministry can provide vans or trucks and work with the health ministry to jab all students,” he told FMT.
Mohamad Ali added that the reopening of schools in phases starting Oct 3 was still vague and schools and parents have not received any further information about it.
“We have not received full information on the phased reopening announced by the education minister (Radzi Jidin). When will Form 1,2,3 and 4, who do not sit for examinations enter school? No date has been set so far,” he said.
Mohamad Ali also questioned the status of students living in Phase 1 states who attend school in Phase 2 areas.
“How will they (parents) send their children? What guidelines should they refer to? Is it allowed or not?” he asked.
He urged the education ministry to present a more comprehensive school opening SOP plan at least two weeks ahead of the reopening.
“This way, parents and teachers can be prepared for any action or changes that need to be taken,” he said.
Last Friday, Radzi stressed that physical school sessions will still be held from Oct 3.
However, he explained that the sessions will not involve states that are still in Phase 1 of the national recovery plan. States that are still in Phase 1 are Kedah, Selangor, Johor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia senior lecturer Anuar Ahmad agrees with PIBGN that it makes no difference if schools are in locations in different phases if the community itself was not completely vaccinated.
“It doesn’t matter if the school is (in a location) in phase one, two, three or four. There is no big difference between these phases now. Those (SPM, STPM, and STAM examination year students) who need to return to school need to be fully vaccinated.
“All those related to the reopening of schools such as teachers, office workers, security guards and bus drivers must also complete two doses before being allowed to work,” he said.
Meanwhile, Anuar said non-examination students were recommended to continue to undergo PdPR until the end of the year or until the situation is completely under control.
“Other students can continue with PdPR until the end of the year or until new Covid-19 cases drop to a number that is considered safe.
“For teachers who insist on not getting vaccinated, they can be instructed to teach through PdPR to students who are not in the examination year,” he said.
It was previously announced by Radzi that face-to-face school sessions, which were supposed to start on Sept 1, had to be postponed to Oct 3.