KUALA LUMPUR: The National Union of Teaching Professions Malaysia (NUTP) has urged the government to include polytechnic and community college lecturers in the first phase of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP).
Its secretary-general Harry Tan Huat Hock said lecturers at polytechnics and community colleges were also at risk and more prone to Covid-19 infection as technical and vocational training and education (TVET) teaching and learning require face-to-face meeting.
"The NUTP would like to thank the government for including educators (teachers) who are at high risk to receive Covid-19 vaccine jabs under the first phase of the NIP.
"However, we would also like to appeal for lecturers at polytechnics and community colleges to be given priority in the first phase.
"Face-to-face teaching and learning method is needed for the purpose of workshops and practical assessments that are not suitable to be conducted online.
"It is even more worrying when a Polytechnic in Mukah has been placed under the Enhanced Movement Control Order from April 1 to April 24," he said in a statement today.
Tan said the NUTP, therefore, hopes the government and the health ministry would give due consideration to its requests so that these lecturers who are at risk are given priority in the NIP.
This, he added, would improve and strengthen the education system in Malaysia.