Education ministry's silence over heatstroke as students head back to school after break
For illustration purpose - Photo by 123RF
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SHAH ALAM: One would have thought the Education Ministry would come out with immediate guidelines after two children died of heatstroke - one was an 11-year-old and the other a 19-month-old toddler.
The Health Ministry has also confirmed two to three other cases related to hot weather.
With schools starting next week, shouldn't schools and parents be informed immediately of the measures taken by schools to prevent this tragedy?
After all, deaths from heatstroke are preventable with proper measures.
Shouldn't the ministry have a SOP by now on the measures taken by schools? Hasn't the weather expert rung enough bells to warn authorities about excessive heat until August of this year, with some warning that temperatures may reach 39 degrees Celsius?
The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi have commented on this issue.
Zahid has suggested that the Cabinet should discuss whether there is a need to extend the school holidays following the heatwave currently hitting the country while NUTP has said that there is no need to extend school holidays.
Are we seriously going to wait for opinions to be thrown around while our children's health is at risk?
The Education Ministry should have enough experts to deal with the issue and the Education Minister should be coming out with statements to ease the concerns of parents over the worsening heatstroke by now.
The government should come up with policies to prevent heatstroke, including guidelines on outdoor activities, hydration, access to clean water, and cooling systems.
Water bottles should be readily available and perhaps a school bell could be rung every few hours as a reminder to drink up during hot weather.
The government could install at least one water fountain in each school to ensure that clean water is readily available for all students and consider modifying outdoor activities if the temperature hits a certain degree.
School sports teachers should be trained to recognise the signs of heatstroke to be able to respond immediately.
As a parent, I am keeping my fingers crossed that the Ministry will immediately announce proper measures to prevent another death.
