‘SCHOOL REOPENING OKAY IF TEACHERS, STAFF VACCINATED’
Other parents are sceptical about sending their kids back to school from Sept 1
THE announcement on schools being reopened in stages from Sept 1 has received mixed reactions from parents. Father-of-two Ng Jia Xiang said he was receptive to the reopening of schools, provided teachers and staff had been vaccinated.
“The Education Ministry should also state the standard operating procedures clearly and how to handle matters if there are Covid-19 cases at schools.
Ng said: “The government should also give parents alternatives, especially those who choose not to send their children to school.”
Peterina Peter, 33, said she was sceptical about sending her 6-year-old daughter back to school.
“Even if all the teachers are vaccinated, my daughter’s classmates might be infectious.
“With the Covid-19 Delta variant present, I’m even more worried about exposing my child to the infection.”
The Delta variant has led the United States’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday to issue a warning on a “pandemic of the unvaccinated”, prompting new concerns about the health of children under 12, who have yet to be vaccinated.
Sabah has 10 Variant of Concern cases, including three Delta, three Alpha and four Beta cases.
Form Five student Billy Campbell, who is preparing for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) next year, is also concerned.
He said it would be safe to return to school only once students were vaccinated.
“Many adults have yet to get their vaccines.
“By speeding up the process for them, health authorities can then inoculate students, particularly SPM candidates.”
The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) welcomed the ministry’s decision to reopen schools.
However, NUTP president Aminuddin Awang said the reopening should prioritise those sitting public examinations.
“The reopening for examination classes is more important, as they need it more. It is a good decision and we support it.”
The ministry had p r e v i o u s l y a nnounced the reopening of schools in stages in March for primary schools and April for secondary students.
However, Covid-19 outbreaks in schools forced a return to online learning.
Aminuddin said the ministry and agencies had taken into account all risks before reopening schools this time.
He said with over half of school teachers vaccinated, it was time for classes to resume.
“We hope that by the time schools reopen, all teachers are vaccinated.”
Up to July 16, 61.3 per cent or 253,366 teachers and administrators, as well as 10,876 (46.33 per cent) support staff, have received their vaccines.