Press Statement No. 10-2021 (OCC)_CC Applauds the Senior Education Minister’s Decision on Teachers who Refuse to be Vaccinated

PRESS STATEMENT

KUALA LUMPUR (8 SEPTEMBER 2021)   –   The Children’s Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), Prof Dato’ Noor Aziah Mohd Awal (CC) applauds Senior Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin’s decision not to allow teachers who refuse to be vaccinated from conducting classes when school reopens, instead tasking them with other assignments.

The CC, however, is appalled that a reported 2,500 teachers had refused to be vaccinated without valid health reasons. As teachers are civil servants, they are bound by all laws governing civil servants. Stern action must be taken against these teachers as their refusal to be vaccinated may jeopardize the success of the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK). The Ministry of Education must prioritise the welfare and safety of children during the pandemic. It is also in the best interest of children that PICK achieves its target, and for children above 12 years old to be vaccinated.

The CC is concerned with the Ministry’s plan to reopen all schools on 3 October 2021 as many teachers and children have yet to be vaccinated. Prof. Dato’ Noor Aziah recommends that only students who will be sitting for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) and Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) are allowed to attend, irrespective of the phase of the National Recovery Plan (PPN) in which the schools are located as the approximate number of children involved would be just about 500,000 students. She also recommends the following conditions should be fulfilled:

1. These students must have completed their two doses of vaccine and surpass the 14 days period from the date of their second vaccination. If this is not possible, the Government must postpone the reopening of schools until 15 October 2021. For expediency, children could be vaccinated at their own schools’ compounds.
2. All individuals at school including teachers, schools’ staffs, canteen operators, security guards and bus driver must have been fully vaccinated.
3. All parents and family members living in the same house must have been fully vaccinated; and
4. The Ministry of Education must present to the public the latest Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) before reopening schools including family SOPs, school round trip SOPs, a detailed school compounds SOPs which are clear and easily understood.

Meanwhile, for other students, the CC recommends that they continue with the PdPR until the COVID-19 cases falls to a number that is considered safe for their return to schools for face-to-face classes, whilst students who refused vaccination, must continue their lessons at home (PdPR). The counsellor from the state and district education departments, schools and the Health Ministry are urged to explain the importance of vaccination to those students and parents, reminding them of the risks of COVID-19 for students who are not fully vaccinated.

-END-

Professor Dato’ Noor Aziah Hj. Mohd Awal, Children’s Commissioner

8 September 2021

Media queries: Contact Mrs. Norashikin Hamzah at 03-2612 5687 / 019-621 5336 or shikin@suhakam.org.my

KENYATAAN MEDIA

KUALA LUMPUR (8 SEPTEMBER 2021)   –   Pesuruhjaya Kanak-Kanak, Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM), Prof Dato’ Noor Aziah Mohd Awal (CC) memuji keputusan Menteri Kanan Pendidikan Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin untuk tidak membenarkan guru-guru yang enggan divaksin daripada mengadakan kelas ketika sekolah dibuka semula, sebaliknya memberikan mereka tugasan lain.

CC walaubagaimanapun terkejut dengan laporan bahawa 2500 orang guru yang enggan menerima vaksin COVID-19 tanpa alasan kesihatan yang diperakui. Oleh kerana guru adalah penjawat awam, mereka sepatutnya tertakluk kepada semua undang-undang yang melibatkan penjawat awam. Tindakan tegas hendaklah diambil terhadap guru-guru ini kerana keengganan untuk divaksin boleh menjejaskan kejayaan Program Imunisasi COVID-19 Kebangsaan (PICK). Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia (KPM) harus mengutamakan kebajikan dan keselamatan kanak-kanak semasa pandemik. Bagi PICK mencapai matlamatnya dan pemberian vaksin kepada kanak-kanak yang berumur 12 tahun ke atas, adalah untuk kepentingan terbaik kanak-kanak.

CC berasa khuatir dengan rancangan KPM untuk membuka semula semua sekolah pada 3 Oktober 2021 kerana masih ramai lagi guru dan kanak-kanak yang belum divaksin. Prof Dato’ Noor Aziah mengesyorkan agar hanya pelajar yang akan menduduki Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) dan Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) dibenarkan untuk hadir ke sekolah, tanpa mengira fasa Pelan Pemulihan Negara (PPN) di mana sekolah-sekolah berada kerana anggaran jumlah kanak-kanak terlibat hanya sekitar 500,000 pelajar. CC juga mengesyorkan syarat-syarat berikut turut dipenuhi:

1. Para pelajar ini hendaklah telah lengkap dua dos vaksin dan telah melepasi tempoh 14 hari dari tarikh vaksinasi kedua mereka. Jika ini adalah mustahil untuk dilakukan, KPM hendaklah menunda pembukaan semula sekolah sehingga 15 Oktober 2021. Untuk kelancaran program vaksinisasi kanak-kanak, pelajar bolehlah divaksin di pekarangan sekolah masing-masing.
2. Semua individu di sekolah termasuk guru-guru, kakitangan sekolah, pengusaha kantin, pengawal keselamatan sekolah dan pemandu bas hendaklah telah lengkap divaksin.
3. Semua ibubapa dan ahli keluarga yang tinggal serumah dengan pelajar hendaklah telah lengkap divaksin.
4. KPM hendaklah membentangkan pada orang ramai berhubung prosedur operasi standard (SOP) yang terkini sebelum membuka semula sekolah termasuklah SOP keluarga; SOP perjalanan pergi dan balik sekolah; dan SOP dalam kawasan sekolah yang terperinci dengan cara yang jelas dan mudah difahami.

Sementara itu, bagi pelajar lain, CC mengesyorkan agar mereka meneruskan dengan PdPR sehingga kes COVID-19 menurun angkanya ke satu jumlah yang dianggap selamat untuk mereka kembali semula ke sekolah bagi menjalani pembelajaran secara bersemuka, sementara untuk pelajar yang enggan divaksin, mereka hendaklah meneruskan pembelajaran di rumah (PdPR). Kaunselor dari Jabatan Pendidikan Daerah dan Negeri, sekolah dan KPM adalah digesa untuk memberi penerangan berhubung kepentingan vaksinisasi kepada para pelajar ini dan ibu bapa mereka, dengan mengingatkan mereka akan risiko COVID-19 bagi pelajar yang tidak divaksin sepenuhnya.

-TAMAT-

Professor Dato’ Noor Aziah Hj. Mohd Awal, Pesuruhjaya Kanak-Kanak

8 September 2021

Pertanyaan Media: Sila hubungi Pn. Norashikin Hamzah melalui 03-2612 5687 / 019-621 5336 atau shikin@suhakam.org.my