Ipoh schools take measures while awaiting nod to reopen

Tables and chairs in SMK St Michael classrooms have been arranged accordingly.

SCHOOLS in Ipoh are getting their premises ready to accept students as soon as the Education Ministry gives the green light.

SMK St Michael Ipoh principal Sit Wai Yin said the school board of governors, Parent-Teacher Association and Old Michaelians Association had asked that the infrastructure at the school be upgraded before the reopening.

“This includes the installation of extra wash basins in front of the guard house and staff room.

“Our senior assistant and teachers also came back to place social distancing markers including arranging the tables accordingly.

“Classes with 30 students will be divided into two groups while the school hall would be used by some teachers,” he added.

Education Minister Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin had said a two-week notice would be issued before schools reopen.

Initial reopening would be limited to Form Five and Form Six students.

Sit said the school had held meetings on preparations based on the standard operating procedure (SOP).

“We will place sanitiser in all classrooms and disinfect classrooms before and after school hours daily,” he said, adding that the school has 220 Form Five and 132 Form Six students.

“We’ll also clean all the tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, telephones, keyboards, toilets, faucets and sinks,” he added.

He said everyone in school would be advised to wear face masks and wash their hands regularly.

“Students will be told to take their temperature at home and to bring their own food during recess,” he said, adding that recess time would be staggered.

Sit added that during the movement control order, the school had a mini studio for live streaming and recording of lessons for students, adding that the Upper Six lessons had been going on well.

SMJK Ave Maria Convent principal Liew Swee Fong said the school had planned a new timetable for Form Five students.

“I was told the ministry would come up with a more detailed set of guidelines on the SOP.

“The basic precautions that we have planned were to advise teachers, students, staff and visitors to wear face masks,” she said, adding that taking temperature, sanitising classes and laboratories and practising social distancing would be observed.

SMK Seri Keledang principal Gunalan Tony said they would wait for official instructions from the state education department.

“The department would be sending us the SOP before we can prepare for reopening,” he said.