MORE than 90% of the 450,000 public school teachers in Malaysia are vaccinated, said the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP).

NUTP secretary-general Wang Heng Suan said that teachers who refused the shot did so mainly due to medical reasons, especially due to chronic diseases.

“We cannot force them because the teachers have their right to say no. But we can give them counselling and advice to accept the vaccination for their own safety and for others.

“NUTP hopes they will eventually agree to get vaccinated for the sake of education,” he told the Malaysian Insight.

The Education Ministry had announced that schools will reopen in stages from October 3.

Schools in states under Phase 1 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) will remain closed, whereas schools in states under Phase 3 will be allowed to open. 

For Phase 2 states, the reopening of schools will only involve examination classes.

While the NUTP supports the ministry’s announcement, Wang said most parents are reluctant to send their children for physical classes.

He said that parents, including teacher-parents, are worried about the safety of their children.

“This does not only occur in the states that are in Phase 1, but also in Phase 2 states.

Wang said the percentage of parental consent has yet to reach 10%.

Nonetheless, the announcement by the Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) on giving Covid-19 jabs to all children aged between 12 and 17 from September 19 had fostered confidence among parents, he added.

Wang suggested that the government to allocate dedicated vaccination centres (PPV) only for children.

“This is because the general PPVs can put students at risk of being easily infected.

“NUTP appealed to the Education Ministry to propose to the Health Ministry for several schools to be used as children’s PPVs according to district or zone,” he said.

Wang also urged related authorities to give priority to teachers and other school employees such as canteen workers, cleaners and security guards, who are waiting for their appointments to complete their vaccination. – August 24, 2021.