‘Main goal is students’ safety’

KUALA LUMPUR: A teacher’s most important duty is to ensure the safety of students, says Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon.

The Deputy Education Minister reminded teachers that they were surrogate parents to the students under their care and should adopt the “loco parentis” concept.

“A teacher’s first and foremost duty is to be the foster parent to their students.

“Students’ safety comes first on top of everything else.

“Loco parentis is where educators assume the role of custodians of students in school, ” he said, after handing over disinfection solution and disinfectant spraying machines for schools at SJK (C) Sentul yesterday.

A total of 1,231 government schools in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor were given six bottles of concentrated solution and two battery operated spraying devices each, courtesy of Kong Long Huat Chemicals Sdn Bhd.

Noting that government school teachers were part of the civil service, Dr Mah said it was time for them to resume duties now that Hari Raya holidays have ended.

“Teachers should prepare lessons, syllabus for the students, help the school carry out standard operating procedures (SOP) and conduct online lessons, among others.”

Dr Mah added that all decisions by the ministry were based on careful consideration and advice from the National Security Council and Health Ministry.

“A lot of energy and time have been spent drawing up the SOP. The people should take some time to go through the SOP and adhere to it, ” he said.

Dr Mah said he supported blended-learning (a mix of online and offline learning) as the way forward in education.

He added that more spot checks would be carried out in schools to ensure their level of preparedness and compliance with the SOP ahead of reopening on June 24.

Also present during the ceremony were Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur education director Maznah Abu Bakar, Malaysian Chinese Language Council president and SJK (C) Sentul board of directors chairman Datuk Eddie Heng Hong Chai and Kong Long Huat Chemicals managing director Datuk Francis Heng.