KUALA LUMPUR: The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) has proposed that the timetable for students attending physical classes and those going through Home-based Teaching and Learning (PdPR), be standardised for all schools nationwide.
Secretary-general Harry Tan Huat Hock said this is important in ensuring the quality of PdPR, as teachers and students could lose focus and get tired if the sessions are too long.
“The NUTP found that there are schools that require teachers to teach from 7.30am to 4.30pm, exceeding the official teaching hours which should end at 2.30pm.
“The long hours in school can be exhausting, making students lose interest in preparing for the coming SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) and STPM (Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia) and the same goes for teachers who have been working hard earlier teaching students via online classes,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He added that it is feared that the health of teachers and students may be affected as the long hours in class would deprive them of leisure activities which are needed to help strengthen the body’s immunity especially during the movement control order.
Tan also called on the Education Ministry to look into the safety of teachers currently conducting face-to-face learning sessions for students sitting for major examinations.
He said the ministry should provide teachers with personal protective equipment such as face masks and overcoats, in accordance with standard operating procedures, Bernama reported.
Tan urged the relevant parties to be more sensitive to the Covid-19 situation and refrain from organising activities that could expose people to risk of infection.
