Teachers want September school reopening delayed

 

Reopening schools in September would mean only 10 weeks of face-to-face classes this year, says NUTP secretary-general Harry Tan.

PETALING JAYA: The national teachers union has issued a plea for Putrajaya to postpone the physical reopening of schools on Sept 1 in view of the high daily Covid-19 cases.

With 20,780 Covid-19 cases reported today, National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Harry Tan said many parents would be choosing not to send their children to school when it reopens in September.

He added that reopening schools in September meant that there would only be 10 weeks of face-to-face classes, with the final day of the school term falling on Dec 11.

“Although more than 30% of the adult population have been fully vaccinated, it does not guarantee the safety of lives as we’re now seeing over 200 deaths almost daily.

“Therefore, NUTP pleads with the education ministry to give special consideration to the safety and health of students and teachers. The ministry must postpone the reopening of schools to a safer date,” he said in a statement today.

Tan also reiterated the call for the government to provide fast and cheap internet access to B40 families, and to make available special internet packages to teachers, in order to boost the online learning programme.

The NUTP joins the Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) and Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie) in calling for schools to stay closed due to high Covid-19 cases.

The World Health Organization (WHO) science council member Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman and former education minister Maszlee Malik also criticised the blanket reopening, calling for schools in lower-risk areas to be opened first. - FMT