AS the reopening of schools draws nearer, the anxiety level of parents of unvaccinated Sarawak pupils rises, with some having made up their minds not to send their children to school until they get assurances that it is really safe.

Many feel that their children should skip the first few weeks when schools reopen on October 3.

For now, they believe it is better to continue with online classes.

“I will definitely not send my two nieces back to school just yet,” said Tandin Anjut.

Tandin, who is the guardian to Aerina Dumang Metterrand, 10, and Angela Ena Mayang Metterrand, 8, said he feared the worst with the Covid-19 epidemic still raging in the state.

Aerina is a Year 4 pupil at SK Nanga Ajau in Betong while Angela is in Year 2.

Tandin said he will only send them to school when he feels the situation has improved.

“I’m still fearful of the epidemic,” the Malaysian Pepper Board employee told The Malaysian Insight.

Currently, only those in Year 6 and secondary level – aged between 12 and 17 – are being vaccinated.

Sarawak began vaccinating 16 and 17-year-olds and 12 to 15-year-olds with comorbidities on September 8.

The vaccination for 12 to 15 year-olds who have no comorbidities will only start next week.

It is estimated 192,800, or 6.9% of Sarawak’s population, are in the 12-17 age group.

The reopening of schools will be done in stages from October 3, according to the phases the states are in under the national recovery plan, giving an indication that the country is transitioning towards an endemic state.

Under the recovery plan, phase one is a full lockdown of activities except those deemed essential, while phase two allows for slight easing of restrictions, especially in workplace operations. Phase three sees most sectors operating while some curbs on social sectors remain, and phase four is almost a full reopening.

Schools in phase one areas will continue teaching online while those in phases two and three will adopt a mix of online and physical classes. Those in phase four will have full physical classes.

Sarawak districts still in phase two are Kuching, Bau, Lundu, Samarahan, Asajaya, Simunjan, Serian and Tebedu. The rest of the districts are in phase three.

Tandin’s colleague, Jerry Ringkai, however, has adopted a more cautious stance.

“I’m not against sending my son back to school, but it’s just that I am a little nervous about doing that. Yes, you can say that I’m paranoid,” said Jerry.

He said his seven-year-old son, Teddy Roosevelt, was born premature and he fears his immune system might not be strong enough if he were to contract the coronavirus.

Teddy attends SK Nanga Enteban in Betong.

Betong, 159km from Kuching, is one of the state’s Covid-19 hot zones.

On Friday, 66 new infections were reported in the district with one death.

Two longhouses there – Rumah Intai at Suri Baroh and Rh Tila at Luing – were placed under enhanced movement-control order from September 25 to October 5 after new Covid-19 cases were detected.

Ten new cases at the so-called Km20 cluster, the workers’ quarters of a Pan Borneo Highway contractor, which is a stone’s throw from the office of Malaysian Pepper Board, serve as a stark reminder to Jerry and Tandin that the epidemic is far from over.

Gracia Baba said she is on edge just thinking whether to send her daughter back to school when it reopens.

“I am really worried. I don’t know if my daughter’s immune system is up to it,” said the mother of two.

To add to her worries, one of the teachers at her daughter’s school was tested positive.

Her 10-year-old daughter attends a primary school in Pantu in Sri Aman.

Grace, as she is better known to her friends, said she feels it is better to continue learning online until the situation is “really safe”.

“Or when vaccination for children is available,” she said.

On Friday, Sri Aman was the fifth most infected area in the state with 146 new cases reported.

Amelia Lim, a working mother in Kuching, is adamant not to send her nine-year-old son back to school as long as he is not vaccinated.

“Yes, he will stay home if he hasn’t got his vaccination,” she said.

Lim said for nearly a year, she has doubled up as her Year 3 son’s teacher when she returns from work.

“I have to do revision with him every night and check his schoolwork,” she said.

Earlier this month, in announcing the timetable for schools to reopen, Education Minister Mohd Radzi Md Jidin said parents or guardians can choose not to send their children to school if they are worried about the Covid-19 threat when schools reopen in stages.

He said it will not be considered a disciplinary offence, adding that no warning letter will be issued to pupils. – September 26, 2021.