KUALA LUMPUR: National Parent-Teacher Association (NPTA) has expressed concerns over the 41 Covid-19 clusters linked to educational institutions that have emerged since January.
NPTA president Assoc Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Ali Hassan said the situation was worrying with more students returning to school.
"We cannot just ignore these figures. The Education Ministry and Health Ministry must address the situation professionally.
"Some kind of positive action and proposals must be implemented, either at national or state level," he said when contacted today.
Health Ministry revealed that it detected 41 Covid-19 clusters linked to educational institutions nationwide between January and March this year.
This has amounted to 2,228 cases with the highest being from higher education institutions at 1,058, followed by secondary schools at 631 cases, pre-school and primary schools at 419 and others (120).
Mohd Ali proposed for temporary closure of affected schools to curb the outbreak.
He said students found positive must undergo stringent checks and quarantine and affected schools must undergo thorough sanitation.
"Affected schools may return to home-based teaching and learning. Before the schools are reopened, proper monitoring and evaluation must be carried out while reviewing the present standard operating procedures."
He stressed that the ministries and National Security Council must act fast to mitigate the outbreak.