Schools reopening indicates endemic Covid phase - senior minister

The reopening of schools in stages from Oct 3, according to the phases of states under the National Recovery Plan (NRP), indicates that the country is now transitioning towards an endemic Covid-19 phase.

Senior Minister (Education) Radzi Jidin said this and added that the approach showed the country would return to "normal".

“In the context of these NRP phases, we are bringing the country back to normal by ensuring the rules we introduced can be complied with and schools can be reopened safely,” he said.

He was speaking at a joint press conference with Senior Minister (Defence) Hishammuddin Hussein today.

On the meeting with the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Health, and the National Security Council, Radzi said that it was to ensure the planning and implementation of school reopening could be carried out smoothly.

On Sunday, the senior minister announced the reopening of schools, using a weekly student rotation method, with attendance of students set at 50 percent to reduce numbers in class and cut the risk of Covid-19 transmission.

For school reopening in states under Phase 2 of the NRP, only primary schools with special needs pupils at Special Needs Public Schools and Integrated Special Education Programmes will reopen.

For secondary schools in Phase 2 states, only Form 6 students in Semester 2 who will be sitting for their STPM exam at the end of October will be involved.

Asked about action against teachers who decline to get vaccinated, he said the matter was still under discussion with the Public Service Department.

“We see that the number of those who choose not to be vaccinated is around 2,500 people, and we will make sure they will not be involved in face-to-face teaching, but will be given other tasks, and there will definitely be action taken against them,” he said.

- Bernama

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