KUALA LUMPUR: Absenteeism is on the rise in schools around the Klang Valley since last week, following the spike in Covid-19 cases in the country, including among teachers and students.
SK Bangsar here announced it would close for a week yesterday after two pupils tested positive for Covid-19 recently, but schools in the rest of the Klang Valley are seeing a drop in attendance despite not recording any cases.
A teacher, who wanted to be known only as Fiqa, 30, said poor student attendance at her school began last week.
"We recorded only 23 per cent student attendance this week. On Wednesday, I only had nine out of 40 students in my class, with five or 10 students in another.
"The drop in attendance became more noticeable this week.
"On Monday, we saw an average of 26 students to a class and the number dropped to 19, 11 and five in the subsequent days," she said, adding that typically, a class had about 40 students.
She said most parents stopped sending their children to school out of fear of students contracting Covid-19.
"This is the feedback we got from the forms parents need to fill to justify the reason their children are not attending school.
"The data is also recorded in the Education Ministry's Student Database Application. Teachers are required to fill in reasons for students' absence.
"Clearly, Covid-19 is the main reason here."
Fiqa said despite poor attendance, lessons continued with students who were present.
"Even if there are only five students, I will teach."
Teachers are also in regular contact with the parents via text messaging groups to update them on homework and tasks that students need to complete.
A secondary school teacher in Subang Jaya, Selangor, said Form Five students had been diligently attending school in preparation for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia trials.
"But only 30 per cent of lower form pupils came to school this week.
"I think the number will continue to drop. Today, one class was empty," she said yesterday.
"We understand why parents do not want to send their children to school as cases have been rising."
An online petition titled "Close Schools Temporarily Until Covid-19 Cases Are Under Control" is gaining traction on social media, with parents urging the Education Ministry to close schools nationwide until the alarming situation improves.
SK Bangsar principal Soharto Baharen, in a circular sent to parents, said the school would close until Oct 16 for the authorities to conduct disinfection, investigation and close contact tracing.
It is understood that a Year Five and a Year Four pupil, both girls, contracted the virus from their relatives who attended a kenduri.
Health Ministry staff visited the school on Thursday to administer Covid-19 swab tests on pupils and teachers. The swab tests involved about 80 pupils from Year Four and Five, as well as 26 teachers identified as close contacts of the two infected pupils.
None of the school's 800 pupils attended yesterday's morning session.
SK Bangsar Parent-Teacher Association chairman Mohd Yazid Mohd Yasin said it was expected that all 1,800 pupils of the school, including those from the afternoon session, would stay at home until the situation improves.
He said only administrative staff and teachers who did not need to undergo Covid-19 screenings were allowed on the premises.
"The Health Ministry screened pupils and teachers who were at school yesterday (Thursday). Those who have done the swab test are required to undergo quarantine.
"Today (yesterday), we are expecting more health officials to come and conduct swab tests.
"We have traced and informed pupils and their parents who are required to do the swab test."
He said pupils and teachers who were screened were required to wear pink wristbands at all times.
"We have also sanitised the school premises," he said.
Meanwhile, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the Education Ministry had the authority to take appropriate action in this matter, following suggestions from the Health Ministry, including deciding to close schools.
In recent weeks, schools in Terengganu and Kedah had reportedly been closed following the emergence of Covid-19 among teachers and students.