Relax rules on uniforms for new school year, urge MPs

 

The Education Ministry should relax rules on school uniforms for students returning to class beginning March 8, said a group of seven opposition MPs.

The group comprising Pakatan Harapan representatives, as well as Warisan and the yet-to-be registered Muda and Pejuang, said this was taking into account parents burdened by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic but were required to spend for their children's education.

"Many parents are heavily burdened by the pandemic and they have spent a lot on the children's education.

"A leeway on wearing school uniforms must be given, at least for this year, given the possibility of another school closure if the movement control order is enforced once again," they said.

They said many parents had to spend on smart devices for their children's online classes, and buying new uniforms, if needed, would be another additional ill-afforded cost.

Access to a gadget or smart device for online classes during the pandemic was a major barrier faced by not only lower-income earners but also middle-class families, prompting various fund-raising initiatives or donation drives for thousands of students nationwide.

Meanwhile, home-based online classes have left many students outgrowing their mostly unworn uniforms bought for the previous school year.

The group that issued a joint statement today comprises Simpang Renggam MP Maszlee Malik, Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching, Tampin MP Hasan Baharom, Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Kubang Pasu MP Amiruddin Hamzah and Kota Belud MP Isnaraissah Munirah Majlis.

Overall, they said the Education Ministry should prioritise students' interests and stop coming up with plans that were reactive or not well-thought-out, with negative implications to the public.

They also urged the government to prioritise teachers and school staff as frontliners to receive an early Covid-19 vaccine dose in the first phase beginning Feb 24.

Earlier today, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said teachers with co-morbidities, who are at risk of a negative outcome in the event of a Covid-19 infection, can be considered as a candidate for early vaccination.

On Friday, Education Minister Mohd Radzi Md Jidin announced that schools would be reopened in stages starting March 8.

The announcement came two days after an official launch of Didik TV, a government takeover of private broadcaster NTV7 to support home-based online teaching and learning process.

The programmes saw ordinary school teachers volunteering to be television talents, at the expense of public scrutiny and even mocking from some irresponsible quarters.  - Mkini