JOHOR BARU: The Education Ministry will stop the current rotation system for primary schools at a time it deems appropriate even if the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids) vaccination rate does not hit 100%, says Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin (pic).

       The Education Minister added that this decision was made after taking into consideration Malaysia’s move towards the endemic phase of Covid-19.

       "Schools around the world are opening up for their students and the ministry will be assessing the situation on the ground and discuss it with the Health Ministry, which has already prepared the vaccines for children.

       "If the take-up rate of vaccines does not increase, then until when do we have to continue using the rotation system for children to go to school?

       "We will announce it when the time is right for primary schools that have more than 600 students to (stop using) the rotation system," he told a press conference at a hotel in Permas here on Monday (March 7).

       He was asked if the ministry had set a target vaccination rate among children before fully reopening primary schools.

       Radzi said the ministry was committed to ensuring that more pupils would be able to go to school normally and in a safe environment.

       He added that data by the Health Ministry as of Sunday (March 6) showed that some 32.3% of children between five and 11 years old had been vaccinated.

       Radzi said the vaccination rate for primary schools was quite low but assured that his ministry would be working closely with the Health Ministry to make it easier for children to get vaccinated.

       "God willing, when the time is right, the ministry will announce that primary schools with more than 600 students would not be using the rotation system for Year Three, Four and Five students.

       "We already told parents of our plans and they should make the best decision for their children’s sake," he added.