Worried Sabah parents reassured by SOP compliance at schools

KOTA KINABALU – Despite being worried about the risk of their children getting infected by the coronavirus, parents are confident in the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and security measures implemented by schools in Sabah.

A check at SK Sri Gaya saw parents being allowed to send their children into the school compound, where teachers were on standby to check the body temperatures of Year 1 and 2 pupils before they were allowed in.

Classes began for Year 1 and 2 students while classes for Years 3 to 6 will begin on March 8.

Parent Nur Dzullazlynna, 35, said the SOPs established at her son’s school were reassuring.

“Parents are only allowed to drop their children off while the rest (of the SOPs are) done by teachers.

“The students are scanned, reminded to put on their masks and sanitise their hands.

“I have full faith in the health SOPs adopted by the school,” she said after dropping her daughter off this morning.

She said her son, meanwhile, was excited to go to school after being at home for months studying online.

In Sandakan, St Monica Primary School has divided its students into three groups, with each group given three different time frames to enter their classrooms.

Headmaster Nicholas Gimpilid said the first group was allowed to enter at 7am, second group at 7.15am, and third group at 7.30am.

“The pupils are also told to go home at three different times,” said Gimpilid, adding that this was the recommendation given by Sabah Education Director Datuk Mistrine Radin.

In assuring the students are safe, Gimpilid said the school management has taken several measures to curb spread of infection, including encouraging parents to order food from the school canteen online before the school session starts.

This is in addition to the usual SOPs of having temperatures taken and hands sanitised.

“All classrooms are disinfected after each school session and a drive-through has been arranged to drop off and pick up the children in order to avoid overcrowding,” he said.

Parent Alyaa Kainom, meanwhile, said she was concerned about her 7-year-old daughter as it was her first time at school.

“This is her first day, I am worried that she is going to cry,” she said.

A total of 94,450 Year 1 and 2 students began their school year, 27,767 attended public preschools and 18,539 attended private preschools statewide. – The Vibes, March 1, 2021

Additional reporting by Rebecca Chong