SEREMBAN – The public’s fear and concern on the risk of the COVID-19 transmission is normal with the re-opening of various sectors in stages since last April.
This included the education sector, with various reactions received from the public when the government announced the re-opening of schools last July, after they were closed for almost four months due to the COVID-19 threat.
Parents were certainly worried about sending their children back to school, thinking about the hygiene, safety and measures taken by the schools in curbing the spread of the disease.
Looking at the scenario, various standard operating procedures (SOP) are implemented by the Education Ministry (MOE) to curb the spread of COVID-19 so that students can attend school so as not to be left behind in their lessons.
Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Tuanku Jaafar 2 (SKTTJ 2) here is one of the schools that strictly adhere to the recommendations and prescribed standard operating procedures (SOP), hence, it was able to record an almost 100 per cent attendance of its students as soon as the school reopened.
The school headmistress, Zalija Marsham, said the confidence of the students and parents to the new norms by complying with the prescribed SOP, as well as the cooperation and support of all parties, is the key to the school’s success.
“The SOP implemented by the school includes requiring students to have their body temperature scanned, as well as to use hand sanitiser before entering their classrooms. Students are also encouraged to wash their hands regularly, and the school also checks on the safety of food, as well as monitors the students’ health.
“For January, February and March, our students’ attendance exceeded the KPI (Key Performance Indicators) set by the Ministry of Education, which was 95 percent, and after the Movement Control Order (MCO) was lifted, we saw a very encouraging attendance of 96.7 percent in the first week. This showed that we have the confidence of the local community,” she said.
Check by Bernama found that the school fully complied with the prescribed SOP with the cultivation of new norms among students, like maintaining their physical distance by not walking closely with one another, as soon as they enter the school compound.
Upon arriving at the school, students will have their body temperature scanned and clean their hands with sanitiser before they are allowed to enter their classroom.
Outside every classroom, there is a sink and soap, contributed by parents, so that students could wash their hands regularly.
Located in Taman Tuanku Jaafar, SKTTJ 2 is a morning session school with a total enrolment of 785 students, including preschool children.
“Our teaching and learning (PdP) process continues as usual, but I include an element of fun learning in every PdP so that it can attracts students to continue to attend school and the community knows what the school does for their children,” said Zalija.
Year Six student, Nurin Sakinah Husna Mohd Zaki, 12, when met said she feels safe and is not worried about attending school even though the country is facing the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said it gave her the confidence to attend school because of the role played by the teachers.
The teachers are concerned about our health and ensure students abide by the SOP, including during recess, she added.
Meanwhile, Negeri Sembilan Education director Md Fiah Md Jamin said the department had visited all schools in the state and noticed that all complied with the prescribed SOP to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
— BERNAMA
