Guidelines for reopening of schools to be distributed tomorrow - minister

The school reopening management guidelines will be distributed tomorrow to allow schools and teachers to make appropriate preparations, said Education Minister Mohd Radzi Md Jidin.

Radzi (photo) said detailed guidelines for the movement of students in the school compound - from the time they arrive until they leave for home - were formulated in collaboration with the Health Ministry and the National Security Council.

“We are issuing these guidelines to see which methods need to be done in the context of reopening schools and the proper preparations to ensure that whenever we announce the date, they will be ready.

“The ministry has always discussed on rooms for improvement with the schools […] what’s important is for everyone to play a role in the management of schools.

“For example, if the child has symptoms then the child should stay at home,” he said.

Radzi said this to Bernama after a visit to see the preparations for school reopening at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Engku Husain, Semenyih yesterday.

Also present were Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, NSC director-general Mohd Rabin Basir and Education Ministry director-general Habibah Abdul Rahim.

Radzi said the state education department and the district education offices would play an important role in monitoring schools to ensure compliance with guidelines set.

“I will also stop by at schools to see the implementation of the guidelines and we are confident that the school management and teachers will assist the ministry in implementing these guidelines,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said parents should not worry about sending their children to school, but they should play a part in educating their children to regularly practise social distancing.

Asked on the date for the reopening of schools, he stressed that there was no set date yet and that he was working closely with the Health Ministry and NSC to decide on the matter.

“Once the MOH and NSC feel it is time to reopen schools then we will make an announcement two weeks prior to the date

“Thus far we have yet to set a date for school reopening,” he said.

He said the move would only involve form five and six students in nearly 3,000 secondary schools nationwide.

- Bernama