THE Education and Health Ministries must plan Covid-19 standard operating procedure for SPM pupils and announce it soon, said the Bukit Gasing assemblyman.

Rajiv Rishyakaran said the ministries are already late for the reopening of school for SPM and STPM pupils yesterday, which resulted in some pupils having to quarantine after a classmate tested positive for Covid-19.

Rajiv was referring to news reports on 86 Mara Junior Science College (MRSPM) SPM candidates in Lipis, Pahang, who are now under quarantine after one pupil tested positive.

“It is only day one of back-to-school and already 86 pupils have been placed in quarantine.

“This is exactly the concern I had expressed earlier when I questioned the SOP for pupils sitting for SPM 2020, scheduled to begin next month,” he said in a statement.

As of yesterday, more than 400,000 SPM and STPM pupils went back to school to prepare for their exams.

“With daily cases and Covid-19 outbreak on the rise, the entire country (except Sarawak) is now under MCO. Yet these pupils are to go back to school without screening.”

The ministries should answer clearly what would happen to SPM pupils who caught Covid-19 and to those in quarantine centres, he said.

SPM and STPM pupils returned to in-person classes yesterday to prepare for the exams which will begin on February 22.

The government reversed its decision to require testing for pupils prior to returning to school, following complaints that they need to self-finance the Covid-19 tests. 

Rajiv said the government should be funding screening for SPM and STPM pupils and questioned the prioritisation of funds in the RM15 billion Permai package unveiled recently by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin for the ongoing MCO.

The DAP assemblyman said Sabah did right by insisting on compulsory screening for pupils returning to hostels.

“I applaud Sabah for taking matters into their own hands by making screening compulsory for pupils returning to hostels. 

“Because of their proactive measures, 36 pupils were found to be positive for Covid-19 and are now in low-risk quarantine centres.”

Sabah Local Government and Housing Minister Masidi Manjun announced the cases yesterday.

Rajiv said SPM pupils are now going to Twitter with the hashtag #SuaraPelajar to express concerns about the reopening of school based on the record number of Covid-19 cases daily.  – January 21, 2021.