TAIPING – The standard operating procedure (SOP) related to curbing the spread of Covid-19 in schools and educational institutions, issued last April by the Ministry of Education (MOE), is still applicable, according to Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh.
Wong said that the SOP involved encouraging the use of face masks for teachers and students, in addition to school staff having to do self-tests if they have symptoms while always maintaining personal hygiene.
“However, we know that the issue of Covid-19 may change from time to time, and the MOE will always discuss and collaborate with the Ministry of Health (MOH) regarding our methods or SOP, to prevent the spread of Covid-19,” he told reporters at the ‘Semarak Taiping’ programme here, last night.
He said this when asked what steps the government would take in the event of an outbreak of Covid-19 in schools, following the current development of cases in the country.
On December 29, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, in a statement, said that the situation remains under control, with most cases reported involving mild symptoms and not requiring hospital treatment, and no new variant of Covid-19 has been detected in the country.
Asked if the MOE will temporarily close schools affected by the spread of Covid-19, Wong said that the ministry will handle each case carefully, and seek advice from MOH for further action if the situation becomes serious.
He said matters related to the SOP would be finalised after discussions with the MOH, as the MOH will continue to monitor this issue, and see what happens after schools reopen (on January 2).
Meanwhile, regarding school uniforms, Wong said thus far the MOE has not discussed the matter, and no decision has been made on the time frame for the relaxation of sportswear for schools nationwide.
He said that, although the weather is back to normal now, there are still several schools on the east coast affected by flooding.
“We at MOE always adhere to the principle of humanity, where we want to give our students relaxation and comfort in their learning. For us the content of learning is more important than other issues,” he said. – January 1, 2024