KUALA LUMPUR: Education groups are throwing their support to the proposal to reinstate the face mask mandate in schools but urged the Education Ministry to adopt common sense when implementing Covid-19 prevention standard operating procedures (SOPs).
The National Parent-Teacher Associations Consultative Council president Associate Professor Datuk Dr Mohamad Ali Hasan said the measure will not only help to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in schools but also protect students, teachers as well as non-academic staff from being exposed to the virus.
Such a move, said Mohamad Ali, was necessary following the emergence of XBB1.16 variant or the Arcturus which have unknown long-term effects.
"Prevention is better than cure and good health practices should start in schools, especially because the number of Covid-19 cases has increased dramatically.
"I hope the SOP and guidelines on wearing face masks in schools can be implemented effectively in our effort to curb the spread of the virus," he said.
Mohamad Ali also proposed the Education and Health Ministries consider providing free face masks in schools if the government decided to reinstate such SOPs.
"The ministries could also consider providing free Covid-19 self-test kits on a periodic or weekly basis to help the students know their status and prevent spreading the virus to their peers," he said.
Education activist Mak Chee Kin is of the view that students in schools should continue wearing face masks if such an SOP is not made compulsory.
"Although it may sound inconvenient to some, such a measure is worth doing for the safety of children.
"I am sure that most of us do not want another outbreak of the virus that will result in the temporary closure of schools," he said.
Parent Action Group for Education (Page) chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said students should be encouraged to wear face masks again where they are in close proximity to one another, such as in the classroom.
"Otherwise, as schools are generally constructed to allow adequate ventilation, some relaxation can be allowed.
"Students should mask up if they are experiencing cold and flu symptoms as well as those around them. Having that said, a common sense SOPs should prevail," she said.
Public health expert Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar expressed his concern that the number of Covid-19 cases will rise again when the school reopens on May 2 if there is no prevention measures to curb the spread of the virus in place.
"The country has detected a new variant (Arcuturus). Compounding the situation is that the Covid-19 immunisation rate involving adults who taken their booster shot is still low.
"That is why we should return to adopting the previous Covid-19 prevention SOPs such as wearing face masks, washing our hands, avoiding crowded places as well as constantly carrying out self-test," he said.
On Wednesday, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said she would schedule an urgent meeting with Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek to discuss the matter ahead of the reopening of schools on May 2.
