Penang international school stays open, despite Covid-19 case

GEORGE TOWN – An international school here kept its doors open, despite detecting a Covid-19 case yesterday.

Only students from the affected Year 6 were excused from their face-to-face classes, while the rest of the students continued their classes on the premises, which has raised concerns among students and parents.

The Vibes learnt that Year 6 students shared a breakfast session with Year 9 students, since both batches had Checkpoint (Cambridge International Examinations) trial examinations. 

However, it was not disclosed when the infected student last attended school before the Covid-19 result was out.

The school said it has been enforcing tight SOPs, and at-risk persons will be contacted by the health authorities.

For the past few weeks, there have been a spate of Covid-19 cases involving students and teachers in Butterworth Vocational College in Seberang Prai and SJKT Ladang Sg Raya in Langkawi, among others.

Last week, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow urged for the closure and implementation of home teaching and learning (PdPR) in Covid-19 affected schools in the state.

He hoped that the state Education Department can re-examine the current risk assessment based on advice from the state Health Department to ensure the safety of students, teachers and staff working in the affected institutions.

According to the Education Department, schools with active Covid-19 cases are not supposed to close without approval from the education minister. – The Vibes, March 25, 2021