SIBU: Local schools are taking all necessary safety measures and adhering to the standard operating procedures (SOP) in preparation for their reopening.
A teacher at SMK Sibu Jaya, Nis Henry Mamut, said teachers and other staff members work hand in hand to ensure social distancing in the school compound using marks set at one metre apart.
“The classes are also rearranged to meet the SOP given by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health. In our school some of the classes can only cater to 16 students after the rearrangement,” said Nis.
Posters have been put up all over the school compound to remind everyone about the 3Cs and 3Ws. The 3Cs mean avoid crowded places, confined spaces and close conversation. The 3Ws means wash, wear and warn.
“Other than social distancing, we have different paths for entering and leaving the school and also stations for temperature checking, isolation and cooling down,” said Nis
She said parents must make sure that their children were in a good health before sending them to school. Hand sanitizers or soap and masks should be ready for their children, and they should always remind their children to practice proper hygiene.
She also called on the students to adapt to the new norms and keep their distance even though they miss their friends and teachers a lot.
“Always remind ourselves that the new norm is our practice for now on and make sure we are healthy so that we can attend class. I bet physical classes are better and more fun than the online ones,” she went on.
“Follow instructions or the schedules given to meet the school SOP. The timetables might vary for different classes especially during recess time.
“Remember, now we are the frontliners in the fight against Covid-19. We help other students to come back to school as early as possible.”
A 27-year-old teacher, Felicia Erekha, said the school emphasised social distancing, high personal hygiene and students’ compliance with the new norms.
She said the students would be divided into several groups to make it easier for the teachers to monitor them.
Regarding online teaching, Lorretta Kong, 29, said that since the movement control order (MCO) was enforced on March 18, the school had prioritised it through Google Classroom, WhatsApp and other social media platforms to help them connect with students.
Apart from that, she also said that it was important to maintain self-discipline and self-awareness during the school session to avoid possible Covid-19 infections.
“It is wise that everyone in the school stay alert while taking the necessary precautions to avoid any Covid-19 cases and follow the guidelines set by the Ministry of Education in the SOP,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Education Ministry (MOE) announced that schools would be reopened for secondary Form 5 and Form 6 students who will sit for their public examinations – SPM, SVM, STPM, STAM and equivalent international examinations – on June 24.
For students who are not sitting for the aforementioned examinations, an announcement on their return to school would be made once a decision has been made.
