Inspections begin at schools

PETALING JAYA: Inspections have already begun at schools to check if they are ready to reopen.

But teachers have yet to get their hands on the “School Management Post-MCO” guidelines that will detail how schools should operate when they welcome their students back.

National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Harry Tan said teachers had not received the guidelines.

“It is still in discussion within the Education Ministry, ” he told The Star.

Education Minister Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin announced last month that measures would be put in place once schools reopen to ensure health and safety.

These measures would be outlined in the guidelines that must be strictly adhered to, he said.

Among the standard operating procedures (SOP) revealed by Radzi two weeks ago were that classes would be limited to a maximum of 20 students, there would be no gatherings and canteens would distribute pre-packed food to students.

Mohd Radzi visited Sekolah Seri Puteri and SMK Bandar Baru Bangi yesterday to see if it was possible for these schools to follow the guidelines provided by the Education Ministry and Health Ministry.

“What is important is that the ministry wants to ensure schools follow the guidelines provided, ” he said in a Facebook post on the same day.

These inspections followed his meeting with the Health Ministry and National Security Council on Thursday to discuss the reopening and SOP for schools after the movement control order (MCO) is lifted.

Radzi said the Education Ministry was in constant discussion with the Health Ministry to see if their guidelines needed tweaking.

Based on his inspection, he said Sekolah Seri Puteri, a full boarding school in Cyberjaya, needed to do preparations for their classes, dining hall and hostels.

SMK Bandar Baru Bangi, on the other hand, had to prepare their classes, canteen and school compound, he continued.

“These two schools are among those chosen to implement the guidelines and any necessary improvements have been noted, ” he said.