COVID-19: Government closes all schools due to increasing cases - Ministry

KUALA LUMPUR: The closure of schools in states that are not involved with the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), namely Pahang, Kelantan and Perlis, is based on data analysis on the increase in cases in those states.

The Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE) explained that the decision was made after data analysis on positive cases, close contact and quarantine among students, teachers and school staff, showing that it was increasing during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Besides that, the MOE data shows that the attendance of students to school will be affected when there are positive cases in an area even though it is located in states that as a whole do not record high COVID-19 cases.

"The absence of these students is due to the parents' concern for the safety of their children if they attend school," according to the MOE in a written reply distributed in the Dewan Rakyat this morning.

Earlier, Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen (PH-Bandar Kuching) asked about the rationale for closing schools nationwide, including in the COVID-19 green zone.

Apart from that, he also wanted to know the rationale for postponing public examinations and government plans in helping students who do not have internet and laptop facilities, especially in rural areas MOE said the closure of schools in the four states involved 1,087,803 students, 99,491 teachers and 20,438 members of the implementing group.

"It is seen as a significant amount in helping the MOH and frontline staff to curb the spread of COVID-19," he added.

Apart from that, the ministry said, it is of the view that efforts to curb the spread of this epidemic are very important in ensuring that school sessions for the year 2021 can be started in a safe situation as scheduled.

"This is also important to ensure that the public examination that has been postponed to February 2021 can be implemented smoothly and safely," he added.

On the question of how students in rural areas can continue learning, especially those who have difficulty accessing the internet, KPM said, learning for those groups can be implemented through Education TV broadcasts on TV channels Okey and Tutor TV Astro.

“In addition, teachers also implement teaching and learning through the delivery of learning materials to students, especially for students living in rural and remote areas.

"The delivery of this material is made through various methods such as postal services, delivery assistance by the Parents and Teachers Association and the driving counter at the school," he added.

He added that the MOE is currently in the final stages of formulating a comprehensive implementation strategy in empowering the country's digital education.

This, he explained, includes taking into account the need for device ownership by students as well as internet access in schools across the country.