By Adrian Lim
MIRI, March 14: The doors of primary schools in Miri and Subis districts will stay shut for one more week until March 21.
Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin in a statement today said the decision to delay the reopening of primary schools came due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases in Miri, which has been categorised as a Covid-19 red zone .
“Since yesterday, I personally called 21 headmasters, three members of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), a few community leaders and parents in Miri to obtain feedback and their reaction (on the school reopening).
“Seventeen headmasters opined that physical classes should be postponed in view of the rising (Covid-19) cases in Miri and district being in the red zone,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lee who is also the minister-in-charge of the Miri Divisional Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) disclosed that a meeting was held with the Miri, Subis and Baram Education Offices this evening.
During the meeting, Lee said the Miri Health Office mentioned that there were 19 cases which involved those between seven and 12-years-old children and 18 cases which involve individuals between 13 and 17-years-old in the past 14 days, with the sources of infection from among family members.
Lee added there were 60 close contacts which involved primary school pupils and 74 close contacts which involved secondary school students.
After listening to the feedback and a discussion with State Education Department director Dr Norisah Suhaili, Lee said Miri DDMC has agreed to postpone face-to-face classes in primary schools in Miri and Subis until March 21.
He revealed that the decision on reopening primary schools in Miri and Subis will be reviewed within one week.
In the meantime, Lee said, primary schools in Marudi, Telang Usan and Beluru districts will resume physical classes as scheduled. — DayakDaily
