PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry will assess the first three days of schools reopening for examination bound classes, starting today, before allowing the rest to do so.
Deputy Health Minister I Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali said the ministry will monitor the situation closely to see if existing standard operating procedures (SOP) are adequate or need to be tightened further.
"Some people have been asking why we reopen schools on Wednesday and not on Monday.
"The reason was so we have three schooling days; starting today to Friday (two days for schools in Group A) and school break on Saturday and Sunday (Friday and Saturday for Group A) for us to re-evaluate the SOPs.
"From there, we can see if the SOPs are suitable or we need to add more," he said.
Noor Azmi told reporters this after his visit to SMK Putrajaya Presint 11 (1) here today.
He added, should everything go well, the ministry will then decide when the rest of the students can return to school.
"(But) for now, there is no specific date," he said.
Three months after being forced to close due to the Covid-19 pandemic, schools reopened today, involving Form Five and Six students who would be sitting for public examinations, namely, Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM), Malaysian Vocational Certificate (SVM), Malaysian Higher School Certificate (STPM), Malaysian Higher Religious Certificate (STAM) and their international equivalents.
Noor Azmi said he hoped all schools will continue to adhere to the SOPs outlined by the health and education ministries.
"The SOPs were given to schools two weeks earlier. Therefore, we hope all the schools, including in rural areas, have implemented them.
"Should any schools face difficulties with the SOPs, they can inform us or the Education Ministry.
"We will try our best to help them," he said.
He added that to ensure adherence to the SOPs; the ministry, Education Ministry, and the police will conduct spot checks at schools from time to time.
Asked on the procedure if any of the students or teachers tested positive for Covid-19 after the reopening of schools, Noor Azmi said the school will be closed temporarily.
"Those tested positive will be isolated and treated at the hospital and contact tracing will be conducted, as per the ministry's SOPs, to prevent further spread of the coronavirus."
On his visit to the school, Noor Azmi said he was satisfied with the measures taken by the school to ensure SOPs as outlined by the ministry and Education Ministry.
Meanwhile, Noor Azmi called on non-governmental organisations and government-linked companies (GLCs) to come forward and assist schools, especially in the rural areas, with equipment such as handheld thermometers to monitor temperatures upon entering the school compound.
The reopening of schools nationwide was first announced by Education Minister Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin on June 10.