PETALING JAYA: Parent groups want to know why the Covid-19 standard operating procedure in schools has not worked, causing an increase in infections among children.

       There have been 367 education clusters identified from Jan 1 to Feb 19, of which 346 are still active.

       The Education Ministry had stated that schools are allowed to close if there is a risk of Covid-19 spreading.

       “The question that arises now is not whether to keep schools open but why the SOP has failed,” said Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim.

       She said schools that had not properly enforced the SOP, especially at meal times, should be fined.

       Now that schools can apply to close their classes, Noor Azimah said it is the responsibility of school leaders to ensure that home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) is as good as face-to-face lessons.

       “The same quality of delivery must be achieved, regardless,” she said when contacted.

       She also said that there are still many students who do not have access to digital devices or Internet connection to take part in PdPR.

       “Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education chairman Mak Chee Kin said the announcement by the Education Ministry had caused confusion as minister Datuk Radzi Jidin had previously said in September that the government would not consider closing schools anymore.

       He said the ministry should be working on finding the reason for and solution to the spike in cases among children.

       Mak said there was a need to monitor the trend in Covid-19 cases over the next two weeks before schools decide whether to revert to PdPR.

       Deputy Education Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin said the ministry had given primary and secondary schools the option of having PdPR sessions if Covid-19 cases rise drastically.

       National Union of the Teaching Profession secretary-general Wang Heng Suan said teachers have no problem switching to PdPR.