Rokiah Mahmud
As the Sultanate gears for the resumption of physical classes on May 14, fresh guidelines have been issued, among them requiring that students, teachers and school employees perform antigen rapid test (ART) every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday; and a body temperature check be performed at the school gate before students are allowed entry.
Appearing on Radio Television Brunei’s (RTB) Rampai Pagi programme, Acting Director of Department of Schools at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Dr Sheikh Lukman bin Sheikh Abdul Hamid yesterday elucidated on the guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) set in place as children aged five to 11 prepare to head back to school for the second term, regardless of vaccination status.
He explained that face-to-face learning will be held at government and private primary schools under the MoE and Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA), including pre-schools and Arabic schools. The resumption of learning and teaching sessions also extends to centres under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS).
The MoH and schools have outlined the guidelines and SOPs to ensure the well-being of every student, teacher and school employee is monitored and protected. Additionally, the MoE and MoRA have set up an Education Affairs Committee that provides schools with a more comprehensive whole-school-modification approach in adhering to the guidelines and SOPs during face-to-face lessons. This is an add-on to the previous business continuity plan (BCP),” Dr Sheikh Lukman said.
To ensure safety, students will be directed to the school hall to perform the ART after their temperature check. The hall must not exceed the 300-person capacity at any given time.
“Those who test COVID-19 positive will be placed in an isolation room, while the rest will be briefed on the guidelines and SOPs,” he added.
Parents and guardians are advised to provide their children with tissues, face-towels, bottled water, hand sanitisers and home prepared meals, while at the same time reminding them to practise good hygiene.
Dr Sheikh Lukman also called on parents and guardians not to send their children to school should they show infectious symptoms including fever, flu and cough.
Additionally, the Siuknya Ke Sekolah programme will be held across all schools in the hopes of reigniting students’ spirit after months of home learning following the second wave of the outbreak.
