KUALA LUMPUR: Addressing the issue of curbing Covid-19 transmission in schools is the responsibility of all members of the community and not just the educators.
National Union of the Teaching Profession president Aminuddin Awang said students only spent a few hours daily on school grounds and were out of school compounds most of the time.
Therefore, he said it was not right that the issue was left entirely to schools to handle.
He further said the Education Ministry had prepared guidelines and strict standard operating procedures (SOP) involving the movement of students in and out of schools to prevent the spread of the disease.
"I also believe an infection is not caused by students after school session as they are only at schools from 7am to 1pm.
"In schools, teachers observe strict compliance to the SOP. However, we do not know the students' whereabouts after leaving school grounds.
"That's why the responsibility to raise awareness (on personal hygiene) and practice self-compliance (to the SOP) falls on all parties," he said.
He said this when asked to comment on the spread of Covid-19 infection among school students.
Recently, the Johor State Health Department confirmed that Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Taman Cempaka, Tampoi, Johor Bahru, was ordered to close from yesterday to March 25 to curb Covid-19 infection.
Also closed were SK Abang Ali and SK St Mary, in Sibu, after recording a cumulative increase in cases to 52 and 43 respectively, on Thursday.
Aminuddin urged the public to adhere to the SOP at all times to break the chain of transmission.
"If we don't take care of ourselves, the chance of infecting others including the students will always be there. This (getting others infected) is what we want to avoid.
He believed that a year after the implementation of the Movement Control Order, some members of the community were becoming complacent.
"I hope we can all work together and continue to support all measures (by the authorities) to curb the spread of the epidemic." he added.