ISKANDAR PUTERI: A total of 779 teachers in Johor have declined to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
According to State Education, Information, Heritage and Culture Committee chairman Mazlan Bujang, the teachers will be called in to inform them on the benefits of taking the vaccine.
"We will call these teachers individually so that we can give them clarification and counselling about the importance of being vaccinated, considering that schools will reopen in October," he said in the state assembly sitting today.
In an immediate reaction on Twitter, Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim said he will meet with the state Education director and the teachers to help resolve the issue.
Responding to a netizen who shared a news report on the matter with him, Tunku Ismail said the meeting will be held soon.
"Our main focus is to overcome the pandemic so that the people and the state can return to normal.
"Insya-Allah, we will be able to resolve this issue," said Tunku Ismail.
Meanwhile, in responding to a supplementary question from Nor Hayati Bachok (Amanah - Maharani) regarding the vaccination rate of teachers in Johor at the state assembly, Mazlan said until Aug 19, 45,448 or 96.26 per cent of teachers in the state have received their first dose of the vaccine.
22,746 teachers in Johor have completed their vaccination.
"For the implementation group members, 6,539 or 91.43 per cent have received their first dose while 2,816 have completed their vaccination.
"For the operational support staff, 9,236 have received their first dose while 7,030 have received both doses," said Mazlan.
He also informed that the Education Department will cooperate with the state government and the state Health Department to ensure that the vaccination programme achieves 100 per cent success.
"Referring to the media statement by the Education Ministry dated Aug 15, they will open the school session in stages beginning Oct 2.
"An early notification will be made if there are any changes in the date following a risk assessment by the Health Ministry and the National Security Council," said Mazlan.