The Malaysian Insight

WHEN a handful of pupils were confirmed to have the Covid-19 virus after schools were reopened at the beginning of this month, it sent jitters among some Selangor parents.

This had reignited a debate if getting their children back to school was a premature decision.

A state assemblyman had even lent his voice into the argument, with Pandamaran rep Tony Leong saying that the National Security Council (NSC) should have continued to keep schools closed and continue to maintain online classes to allay parental concerns.

The DAP lawmaker said that 70% of Chinese parents believed the NSC should have waited until all the pupils have been vaccinated before reopening the schools.

Leong’s fellow assemblyman, Teratai rep Bryan Lai, agreed.

Lai said the Education Ministry should consider writing off the whole of this year for a return to in-person classes and delay some pupils’ graduation by one year.

He told The Malaysian Insight that continuing their studies online during this period will definitely allay parents’ concerns.

“Some parents might think that delaying the graduation by a year will have a negative impact, but I believe that the overall impact will not be greater than the pupils’ health.

“As parents, we always are concerned about our children’s health. ”

The assemblyman said he believes the government should have sought parents’ feedback before deciding on reopening schools and resuming a physical learning environment.

He added the poor compliance of health protocols and the standard operating procedure (SOP) and disregard on the wearing of masks do not inspire confidence in parents.

“Look at the general public, how many people are really wearing masks and are complying with the SOP?

“When there is no 100% compliance, parents get very worried.

“I’ve been reminding my own children to wash their hands and not take off their masks when at school.”

When news of the positive cases among pupils were reported, fearful parents in the Teratai constituency of Selangor launched a signature campaign to put pressure on the Education Ministry to shut the schools down again and resume online classes.

“Although there are no positive cases among pupils in Teratai, parents are still worried when reading of the situation elsewhere,” Lai said.

Resumption of classes inevitable

Lai’s party colleague and Balakong assemblymen Wong Siew Ki, however, disagreed.

Wong said parents know that most of their children could not continue studying online for a variety of reasons.

“For one, many of them don’t have computers.

“Some of the pupils have both parents working, and therefore there is no supervision in their online classes.”

Wong said since the government has no other way to assist these pupils in their online studies, the resumption of physical teaching was inevitable.

She disagreed that the infection cases in Selangor was a cause of great concern, saying that cases were sporadic, whether in schools, the workplaces or shopping malls.

“When pupils go back to school, there is always the chance they could get infected.

“So the government has looked at how to help schools and parents comply with the SOP.

“Only by doing a good job with the SOP can the risk of infection be minimised.”

She also suggested that the Education Ministry explore the possibility of having both online classes and physical teaching.

Wong said parents can have the option whether to send their children back to school or stay at home for the online classes.

She said parents with problems having their children study at home could send them to school.

“The Education Ministry can install cameras in classes to allow pupils to learn through the lens from their home.

“That could allay the fear of parents about their children getting the infection.”

Parents must be responsible as well

Kinrara assemblyman Ng Sze Han nonetheless said whatever decision the government takes, it will not satisfy all parents.

Pandemic prevention, Ng said, is not only the responsibility of schools.

“Parents also have a responsibility because most of the infections are spread among family members.

“The parents and elder ones in the family may have brought the virus home from work, which they then pass it on to their children or younger siblings who then take the virus to school.”

Ng said apart from full compliance of the SOP, people should start learning to coexist with the virus.

“If people did nothing, it would have a big impact on the community.”

National Union of Teaching Professionals (NUTP) secretary-general Harry Tan said the union supports the system that had been put in place for the reopening of the schools.

Tan said if a school has several classes having to shut down because of the infection, pupils and teachers can revert to having the online classes.

Pre-school, Primary One and Primary Two pupils returned to classes on March 1, while those in Primary Three to Primary Six returned on March 8.

Secondary schools in Group A states (Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah) will start on April 4 while those schools in Group B states will start on April 5. – March 22, 2021.