GEORGE TOWN: Things are starting to look up for canteen operators as most of them have been fully vaccinated and are ready to operate when schools reopen next month.

       Kairuddin Mustaffa Wan Bidin, 56, said he has started making preparations while waiting for the latest standard operating procedures (SOP) to be announced.

       “Before the Covid-19 outbreak, the students got to enjoy warm food.

       “The last time when students were allowed to come to school, we had to prepare lunch boxes for them to have their meal in class as they were barred from eating at the canteen.

       “Most of the time, the food was cold by the time students sat down to eat,” he said, adding that all 10 of his employees, besides him, are fully vaccinated.

       “We only managed to operate for around a month this year as schools were closed due to the rise in Covid-19 cases,” said Kairuddin Mustaffa, who has been delivering home-cooked food to earn a living during the difficult period.

       “To sustain a livelihood, I had no choice but to start a home business.

       “I hired a few of my full-time workers to help and I let them take food home for their families. We have to give and take and hang in there for better times ahead.”

       Education minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin announced that schools will reopen in stages from Oct 3, starting with exam year students in Forms Five and Six for states under Phase Two of the National Recovery Plan.

       Schools in areas under Phase Three can open in full, while schools in Phase One states will remain shut.

       “For Phases Two and Three, the decision to reopen schools will depend on the risk evaluation conducted in the respective states,” Radzi said in a Facebook post on Aug 15.

       Meanwhile, Association of School Canteen Operators (PPKSM) secretary Siti Normah Md Desa said the association has about 3,000 members, with about 70% of them fully vaccinated while another 15% have received their first jabs.

       The Education Ministry said those working within a school, including teachers, canteen operators, cleaners and security guards, must be fully vaccinated.

       “We encourage canteen operators who have not received any vaccination appointment to get their jabs at walk-in centres.

       “We were told that schools will reopen gradually beginning October,” Siti Normah said in a phone interview on Tuesday.

       She added that many canteen operators had lost their income due to the temporary closure of schools.

       “Many are struggling because they couldn’t operate, and as a result, they took to operating home kitchens, and becoming food delivery riders, doing part-time jobs.

       “We are thankful that the ministry has granted an exemption for rental of the canteen and premises or space from July to December 2021.

       “However, we still have to pay for utilities and maintenance bills which can come up to RM1,000 a month.

       “We hope that the government will help operators financially when schools reopen as we need a lot of capital to restart our stalls,” she said.