ISKANDAR PUTERI: Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim will be calling the state Education Department director for a meeting following news that more than 700 teachers have rejected their Covid-19 vaccinations.

       In a tweet, Tunku Ismail said he would also be meeting with the group of teachers soon.

       “Our priority right now is to overcome this pandemic as soon as possible so that the rakyat and state can go back to what it was and continue their lives like normal,” he added.

       Earlier on Sunday (Aug 22), state education, information, heritage and culture committee chairman Mazlan Bujang said that 779 teachers in Johor declined to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

       He added the state Education Department would reach out to this group soon and help them change their views.

       “The state government will call these 779 teachers individually and give them information and counselling so that they would gradually understand how important it is (to be vaccinated), as schools would be reopened in phases from October,” he added.

       The Puteri Wangsa assemblyman said this in his reply to Nor Hayati Bachok (PH-Maharani) during the state assembly meeting held at Bangunan Sultan Ismail in Kota Iskandar here on Sunday.

       He added that based on the data from the state Education Department until Aug 19, out of 48,008 teachers in Johor, some 45,448 or 96.26% have received their first dose while some 23,746 or 50.29 have received both doses.

       “Meanwhile, there are 7,152 staff members under the Anggota Kumpulan Pelaksana (AKP) throughout the state, and 6,539 or 91.43% have received their first dose, while 2,816 or 39.37% have received two doses of Covid-19 vaccines.

       He added that out of the 12,919 operational support staff members, 9,236 or 71.49% have received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine while 7,030 or 54.42% have received both doses.

       Mazlan also said the Education Department fully supported the close cooperation between the state government and Health Department to make sure the vaccination programme gets total support.

       He added the cooperation would not only involve educators and school staff but also parents and guardians of students when schools reopen.