When all schools were ordered to close on Nov 9, the daily number of fresh Covid-19 cases was 972. By comparison, there were 2,936 new cases yesterday – a fact which a parent from Penang said topped most parents’ minds.
“The number of cases is very high and worrying. It makes no logical sense to send kids to school,” said Rowen Tan, whose son is in Standard 1.
Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education chairman Mak Chee Kin said he was unsure about the rationale behind the move.
“Parents need more than just the announcements of opening,” he said. “Please tell us why schools are reopening and why Standard 1 and 2 will be the first?,” he asked.
Mak added it would be better if classes were held on a rotational basis so as to prevent overcrowding in schools, a view shared by Tunku Munawirah Putra, secretary of the Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE).
While the group agreed with the re-opening of schools, Munawirah said there are several issues that need to be addressed to ensure classes can be conducted safely to prevent outbreaks within schools.
Apart from the appropriate preventive and protective health measures, she hoped to see classes scheduled to ensure schools are not overcrowded.
Among the other issues to be considered include ensuring adequate teaching staff for Form 4 and 5, considering that the same teachers will be teaching three cohorts since there are currently two SPM cohorts (2020 and 2021).
She also stressed that the mental well-being of students and those falling behind in their learning must be taken care of, with adequate support and guidance from teachers and schools to cope with the challenges brought about by the pandemic.
At a press conference earlier, education minister Radzi Jidin said Year 1 and Year 2 pupils will be back to school on March 1 while those in Years 3 to 6 can return on March 8.
Secondary schools will be opened in two groups on April 4 and 5 according to the school calendar in respective states.
Thousands of Form 5 students returned to school on Jan 20 ahead of the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination which starts tomorrow.
From a health perspective, Azrul Mohd Khalib, chief executive of the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy, said it made sense for younger students to return earlier as they have the “lowest risk” of catching Covid-19 and are also “seriously challenged” when it comes to remote learning – which they find harder to adapt to.
“We don’t have local studies to show what has been the impact of the movement control measures imposed as an effort to control the spread of Covid-19, but what we have heard is that some students have lost basic skills such as reading and writing,” he said.
“Children learn and retain better when they’re in school and when they’re face-to-face. I can only imagine that for exam-age students, in particular, this must have been a difficult and distressing year of disruption and lost learning.”
While reinforcement of health control measures and reasonable physical distancing are necessary, he also pointed out there is a need to also look at proper ventilation in schools.
Stating it is crucial that students are able to return to school in a way that is safe and sustainable, he said it also has to be done in a way that “inspires the confidence” of educators, school staff and the public.
“Therefore, the education ministry must be able to communicate continuously on this issue, giving as much information as possible to address concerns and anxiety among students, parents and guardians.”
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