'Have alternative options for parents not ready to send kids to school'

 By Olivia Miwil - July 18, 2021 @ 4:19pm

The announcement of schools being reopened in stages starting Sept 1 has received mixed reactions from parents here. - NSTP file pic

KOTA KINABALU: The announcement of schools being reopened in stages starting Sept 1 has received mixed reactions from parents here.

Father of two, Ng Jia Xiang said he is receptive to the reopening of schools provided teachers and staff have been vaccinated.

"The Education Ministry should also state the standard operating procedures clearly and how to handle if there are positive Covid-19 cases at schools.

"The government should also allow parents to have alternative options, especially those who choose not to send their children to schools," he said.

Peterina Peter, 33, said she was still sceptical to send her 6-year-old daughter back to school.

"Even if all the teachers are vaccinated, my daughter's classmates might be potentially infectious.

"With the presence of Covid-19 Delta variant, it is even more worrisome to expose my kid in public," she said.

With the rise of the delta variant, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention had warned of a "pandemic of the unvaccinated" on Friday and prompted new concerns about the health of children under the age of 12, which the group has yet to be allowed to receive the vaccine.

On Tuesday, it was reported there are 10 Variant of Concern cases including three Delta, three Alpha and four Beta cases in Sabah.

Form 5 student Billy Campbell, who is preparing for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination next year, is also concerned should school reopen when Covid-19 cases are still high.

He felt only through vaccination that it would be safer for students to go back to school.

"There are many people (21 year-old and above) who have yet to get their vaccines despite registering for it since early this year.

"By speeding the process for them, the Health authorities can inoculate students, particularly SPM candidates, so that it could reduce the risk of infections when schools reopen," he said, adding returning to school could help them better prepare for examination.

As of yesterday, 348,939 people in Sabah have completed their two-dose vaccination.