KOTA KINABALU – The reopening of schools should not be rushed as parents and teachers in Sabah have raised their concerns over the ceaseless Covid-19 outbreak.
Sabah education director Datuk Mistrine Radin told The Vibes a report on the views of parents and teachers on the reopening of schools in early September has been compiled and is to be submitted to the Education Ministry.
Mistrine, however, refused to confirm whether the report would be used to decide on the reopening of schools in Sabah.
“We are still in the midst of compiling responses from the parents,” she told The Vibes.
A teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that most schools have received a survey form from the Education Department.
The survey forms were passed on to school staff, parents and Form 5 students to be filled out, she said.
“But many teachers feel the same: that we are not ready for schools to be reopened.
“The presence of Covid-19 variants of concern are worrying and the cases in Sabah remain very high now.
“The students have not been inoculated, the cases exceed the 1,000 range daily, and the whole of Sabah is now a red zone,” the teacher said, adding that schools should remain closed until all students are vaccinated.
She said her students’ parents have personally expressed to her that it is best not to open schools right now.
A parent, Lisa Yapp, said she is not certain whether Sabah will reopen schools, especially the primary schools.
“I may not send my 10-year-old son to school yet and I also see there are other parents who feel the same,” said the primary school teacher.
Yapp said it would not be right to send children to school while the risk of infection remains high.
Another parent, Walter Samuel, said the situation is still not yet safe for his 16-year-old to attend school.
Like many other parents, he said it is more important to have lessons online than send them to school and risk them being exposed to the virus.
“Besides, there are also the variants of concern. School can wait but the virus will spare no one if it spreads,” said Samuel.
Sabah Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun failed to respond when asked whether the government is planning to inoculate those under the age of 18. – The Vibes, August 13, 2021
Additional reporting by Rebecca Chong
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