KUALA LUMPUR: Actress Rita Rudaini has expressed her concern over the government's decision to reopen schools on March 1.
The 44-year-old mother of two took to Instagram recently to request for the Education Ministry to reconsider its recent directive since it involves the safety of pupils and students, as the daily amount of new Covid-19 cases still hovers in the four-digit range.
"How to go to school? Cases are currently still high. I plead for the ministry to rethink its decision.
"If for important things like examinations, then it's alright. The older students know how to take care of themselves but the little ones don't know much," she said.
Rita, who is mother to Airit Rayyan Rizqin, 12, and Airit Qaqa Arjuna, 10, added: "If our children get sick, we will have to foot the bill ourselves. I hope they'll properly, deeply and thoroughly think things through."
Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin recently announced that pre-schoolers, along with Standard 1 and Standard 2 pupils, will be the first group to return to school on March 1, while Standard 3 to 6 pupils will resume in-person classes on March 8.
Secondary school students would return in April after the end of this year's mid-term break.
International schools and private education institutions are allowed to resume operations on March 8.
It was also reported that Malaysia had recorded 1,924 new Covid-19 cases and 12 new deaths yesterday.