KUALA LUMPUR – Fifteen schools in Klang have been ordered closed today and tomorrow due to Covid-19 infections, said lawmaker Charles Santiago.
The institutions are SMK Bukit Tinggi, SK Taman Klang Jaya, SK Rantau Panjang, SMK Meru, SMK Jalan Kebun, SJK (C) Wu Teck, SK Bukit Cerakah, SJK (C) Khe Beng, SMK La Salle, SMK Sri Andalas, SMJK (C) Kwang Hua, SMK Raja Lumu, SJK (C) Hin Hua, SMK Raja Mahadi and SK Taman Sri Andalas.
These schools are among 79 in Selangor that have been told to shut for two days by the Education Ministry.
The Malaysian Insight reported that some parents were informed of the matter only about 11pm yesterday.
Besides Klang, the schools involved are in Hulu Langat, Gombak, Petaling Utama, Petaling Perdana, Hulu Selangor and Kuala Langat.
Santiago posted the list of affected Klang schools, provided by the state Education Department, on his Facebook page, and urged that it be shared with parents, teachers and students.
The Klang education office will update the public on developments regarding these schools, he said.
The closures are nothing new, with numerous schools across the country already ordered shut following the detection of coronavirus infections among students and teachers.
As of today, the national Covid-19 infectivity rate stands at 1.12. Kelantan has the highest reading at 1.36, followed by Kuala Lumpur (1.21), and Selangor and Negri Sembilan (1.13 each).
The Education Ministry, in a directive issued yesterday, said schools with Covid-19 cases will be closed for a minimum of two days, to allow district health offices to carry out a risk assessment, close-contact tracing and disinfection.
Last week, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Mah Hang Soon told a Chinese newspaper about his proposal for education institutions to be closed for two days if even a single infection is detected.
The government has been slammed for its lack of strict standard operating procedures on school closures due to Covid-19. Generally, these closures are to facilitate disinfection works.
Selayang MP William Leong took the government to task for not providing full and timely information on the infections and affected schools.
“The government cannot play God.
“I call on the prime minister to make immediate announcements and provide complete information to the parents, students, teachers and staff of schools affected by Covid-19 cases.
“It is the government’s duty and obligation to disclose fully the material facts on Covid-19 cases in schools.
“This is to enable the parents, teachers, staff and students to make a fully informed decision on whether to run the risk of infection. Only they can make such a decision, not the government.”
It is wrong and wholly irresponsible for Putrajaya to withhold such information, he said.
“The prime minister and these ministers cannot decide on behalf of the students, their parents, teachers and staff to expose them to the risk of Covid-19 infection.
“It is a matter of life and death. There is the risk of serious, and even permanent, damage to their health and well-being.” – The Vibes, April 26, 2021
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