Education

NUTP calls for teachers to get quarantine leave

Without it, they have to use up their special leave days, which is insufficient, says sec-gen Harry Tan Huat Hock

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 23 Apr 2021 3:43PM

NUTP calls for teachers to get quarantine leave — Currently, teachers identified as close contacts of Covid-19 cases have to take special leave before receiving a quarantine letter from the District Health Office. – The Vibes file pic, April 23, 2021

KUALA LUMPUR – The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) today urged Education Minister Datuk Radzi Jidin to give leave to teachers forced to quarantine due to close contact with Covid-19 cases.

NUTP secretary-general Harry Tan Huat Hock said currently, such teachers had to take special leave before receiving a quarantine letter from the District Health Office (PKD).

He said the process of obtaining a quarantine letter from the PKD takes time due to the increase in Covid-19 cases in the country.

“The special leave quota is insufficient. Teachers who are close contacts have no choice but to come to the office to work as usual.

“Due to this, the virus could easily spread among schoolchildren and, more worryingly, puts pupils with weak immune systems at risk,” he said in a statement today.

Tan said teachers given quarantine leave could conduct home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) sessions and students could continue learning at home. – Bernama, April 23, 2021