Covid-19: Self-testing for primary school students to start this week

PETALING JAYA: Covid-19 self-tests for primary school pupils will be conducted at home starting this week.

Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin said 10% of pupils would be selected on a weekly basis to do the tests at home.

These pupils would be selected randomly.

"The implementation began in schools on Dec 1, 2021.

"Following that, the ministry discussed with the Health Ministry on the approach that should be taken for the (further) implementation of this test.

"The Health Ministry agreed to allow these tests to be conducted at home and schools have been informed of this decision.

"Self-test kits will be provided by schools and it will kick-off this week," he said in a video posted on his Facebook on Tuesday (Jan 11).

In a statement issued later Tuesday, the Education Ministry said if the test was negative, the pupil could attend school but if it was positive, their parents or guardians should bring them to a medical facility for further action and inform the school.

If the result is "invalid", the ministry said parents or guardians must inform the school and the pupil will undergo another test upon reaching school.

The statement also said that on Mondays, schools would identify the 10% of pupils randomly to undergo the Covid-19 self-test for that week.

On Tuesday, the schools will provide self-test kits and the Covid-19 self-test implementation validations slip to the selected pupils, and on Wednesday, the results must be reported to the schools.

If the days mentioned fall on a public holiday, schools will choose another day to identify the pupils, provide them with the self-test kits and get them to return the Covid-19 self-test implementation validation slips, the ministry added.

“Parents or guardians must complete and sign the Covid-19 self-test implementation validation slip; if the result is negative, pupils can attend school and hand over the slip to the school; and schools must record and inform the district health office of pupils’ test results,” the ministry added.

Radzi said it was important for parents of selected children to carry out the tests according to the procedures stated in the media statement.

This was to ensure the school session would be smooth and safe, he added.

"If it isn’t done according to the procedures, not only the selected pupils will be affected, but their friends and teachers in school as well.

"Therefore, it is vital that once we begin this new approach of conducting Covid-19 self-tests, parents play an important role to ensure this test is done in an orderly manner and we follow the SOPs set by the Health Ministry.

"We want to ensure that the schooling session continues to run safely," he said.