KUCHING: Sarawak Teachers Union (STU) has urged the Education Ministry (MoE) to consider the reopening of schools in the red zones except for the Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) examination centres.
Its president Adam Prakash Abdullah said while the announcement on the reopening of schools would see children and teachers back into classroom nationwide to enhance better learning process, the ministry must reconsider about schools located in Covid-19 red zones.
“The ministry should collaborate with the Sarawak Education Department and the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) in identifying safe areas for schools to resume with strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place.
“STU hopes that the safety of the teachers and students will be given priority in the reopening of the school sessions,” he told New Sarawak Tribune yesterday.
At the same time, he said the teachers should be given priority in receiving the vaccines as they would be with the students in schools and spending long hours with them.
“Heads of schools should also report to the District Education Office on their readiness in receiving students returning to the schools,” he added.
Adam also urged the parents to continue guiding and monitoring their children while doing work at home waiting for the reopening of schools.
In a separate note, STU thanked the government through the ministry for launching the DidikTV terrestrial education television programme and hoped the public would appreciate the efforts put in by the teachers in preparing materials and recording lessons to be aired through the television channel.
“It is a tedious process and STU applauds the efforts of the untiring teachers in helping the students.
“STU would like to advise all teachers to be tolerant and not be stressed out with instructions given out from time to time by the ministry as well as the state Education Department.
“This is a challenging time which requires high degree of patience and positive approach towards our work and to make sure no child is left behind in the education process,” he continued.
