ABOUT 83% or 951,739 students in higher education have been fully vaccinated as of October 1, Higher Education Minister Noraini Ahmad (Parit Sulong-BN) said today.

“As of October 1, some 83% or 951,739 students out of a total of 1.15 million higher education students have been fully vaccinated, while 90% of the staff in these institutions have also been inoculated,” she said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

“There are also 2,286 students or 0.2% who have not been vaccinated due to health concerns, as of October 8.”

She was answering a question by Akmal Nasrullah bin Mohd. Nasir (Johor Bahru-PH) and Syed Saqqid Syed Abdul Rahman (Muar-Ind) on the vaccination rates among students in universities.

Higher education institutions will open in phases from October 15 nationwide.

To facilitate students’ return to campus, Noraini said the ministry has worked out a plan with the Health Ministry, the national security council, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, and even with airlines.

“The plan includes managing the return of students to campus in stages, in-person learning, online learning, standard operating procedures for travelling in and out of campus, mitigation plans for Covid-positive students and asymptomatic students, among others.”

When students return on October 15, they will be made to use Covid-19 self-test kits to monitor and curb potential infections, she added.

“They will also be tested every now and then. Those found to be positive or close contact will be quarantined and their studies will continue online.

“If there is a need to close down the campus, that decision will only be made upon the recommendation of the Ministry of Health.” – October 11, 2021.