PUTRAJAYA - The Education Ministry has confirmed that around 6,000 students across the country have been infected with the influenza virus to date.
Education director-general Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad said several schools have been temporarily closed on the advice of the District Health Office, including one in Johor.
“As of last weekend, about 6,000 students have been reported to be infected with influenza. However, the cases are not concentrated in one particular area, they involve different schools across several states,” he said during a press conference on Monday.
He said the ministry has issued guidelines for managing infectious diseases to all schools, teacher training institutes, matriculation colleges and vocational institutions to ensure that preventive measures were taken immediately.
“We have advised schools to encourage mask-wearing and reduce group activities temporarily. Schools are also instructed to refer to their respective District Health Offices if there is a spike in cases,” he said.
Azam said the Health Ministry’s advice and directives will continue to serve as the main reference in determining further actions, including potential school closures.
“If the Health Ministry or State Health Department order a school closure, we will comply immediately,” he said.
With the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examinations approaching, Azam assured that the ministry was fully prepared to handle any situation that might disrupt the exams, which were scheduled to begin on Nov 3.
He said he has instructed the Examination Board officers to be prepared for this challenge.
“We have already experienced conducting exams during the Covid-19 pandemic, so we know how to adjust examination procedures if needed,” he added.
He explained that the Education Ministry has special standard operating procedures for managing sick candidates, including allowing them to sit for their exams in hospitals or alternative locations under official supervision.
At the same time, the ministry has advised all schools to remain alert to influenza symptoms among students and teachers and to take prompt action if there are signs of an outbreak.
“If students show symptoms, schools may allow them to rest or seek treatment. Not all cases require school closure, some can be managed with individual sick leave,” he said.
He stressed that the ministry would not compromise on student safety, viewing health issues as part of its continuous efforts to ensure schools remained safe and conducive environments.
He said the safety and well-being of the students were the top priorities.
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely with health authorities,” he said.