THE Education Ministry should be transparent in sharing data on Covid-19 infections in schools to prevent them from becoming centres of infections, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) Education Committee said today. 

Schools reopened earlier this month after being shut for most of last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but parents and local communities remain concerned that the reopening, while case numbers are still high, could increase the risk of virus transmission.

“Malaysians are relieved with the opening of the schools, where our children will be able to continue their learning, which has been delayed many times since March last year. 

“But at the same time, parents and the local community feel restless, anxious that schools may become centres of infection spread, leading to new clusters to be created. 

“The cause of this concern is due to the lack of data sharing by the Ministry of Education (MOE) regarding schools involved with Covid-19 infection and there is no room for local communities to get involved in protecting schools in their respective areas,” the opposition education committee said in a statement today. 

In the meantime, MOE must be transparent in providing information to the public about Covid-19 cases in school. Timely sharing of data will make it easier for all parties to be more ready to fight Covid-19 in their community, they added.

They said that despite the government calling for a collective effort in battling the Covid-19 pandemic, this has not been put into practice when it comes to dealing with schools and parents.

“The government has called on the people to cooperate in the Covid-19 battle but in this issue, the schools, parents as well as the local community, are not empowered, given space or resources to get involved in protecting the schools and the children,” they said. 

Last month, the opposition had said that the blanket decision to reopen schools was unwise. 

They said schools should be given autonomy to decide when to resume physical classes instead of adhering to a blanket decision by the ministry for all schools to reopen at the same time.

The committee urged for this to be implemented. 

In recent weeks, several Covid-19 cases had been reported among students in several schools, but the schools affected remain open. 

Recently, Free Malaysia Today reported that four pupils of SK Subang Jaya were been found to be positive for Covid-19. 

Despite the active cases reported, the school only moved to shut down three classes and put the affected pupils and 17 teachers under home quarantine. 

Meanwhile, a primary school teacher and 15 pupils were tested positive last Friday in SJK (C) Keng Koon, Simpang Ampat, Penang.

The opposition education committee is headed by independent MP Dr Maszlee Malik, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (PKR), Teo Nie Ching (DAP), Dr Hasan Baharom (Amanah), Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda), Amiruddin Hamzah (Pejuang) and Isnaraissah Munirah Majlis (Warisan). – March 22, 2021.