PUTRAJAYA: The Education Ministry is in the process of discussing with the Public Service Department (PSD) on actions to be taken against teachers who refused to get themselves vaccinated ahead of the reopening of schools, in stages, beginning Oct 3.
Senior Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin said this group of teachers will not be allowed to conduct face-to-face teaching for schools set to open for physical classes.
For now, Radzi said the ministry is in the process of assigning this group of 2,500 teachers to other roles when the schools reopened.
"They only represent a small number of more than 10,000 teachers at schools nationwide.
"Having that said, this group of teachers (who have yet to be vaccinated) are divided into two groups.
"There are teachers who have yet to get vaccinated due to health reasons and there are also those who refused to get vaccinated.
“The ministry is in the process of discussing with PSD on actions to be taken against teachers who refused to get vaccinated,” he told reporters here today.
As of Sept 11, Radzi said 97.46 per cent of teachers accross the country have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccines, while 88.56 per cent of them have been fully inoculated.
“The ministry wanted to create a fully vaccinated ecosystem (involving academic and non-academic staff eligible to be vaccinated) when schools reopen,” he said.
In addition, he said the ministry has obtained a list of companies providing transportation to schools from the Transport Ministry.
"Based on the list, we are also discussing with the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force to ensure drivers of school buses get vaccinated as soon as possible.
"Nevertheless, we appeal to parents must take note and be aware because maybe, (some) school transportation providers for their children are not in the list given to us.
“Hence, we appeal to parents to make the right decision over the matter,” he said,
Source: New Straits Times