KUALA LUMPUR: As civil servants prepare to begin working from home on April 15 to conserve energy, the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) has warned that such measures may not be effective for teachers and students.
While the Education Ministry considers implementing home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) as part of efforts to reduce energy costs, NUTP secretary-general Fouzi Singon said lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic show the threat of a “lost generation” due to remote learning remains a real concern.
“Unequal access to technology, poor connectivity and student absenteeism are just some of the problems students faced when remote learning was implemented during the pandemic,” said Fouzi.
“At this point, we cannot afford another lost generation; schools should be allowed to operate as usual,” he added.
Fouzi confirmed that the NUTP had submitted these views to the Education Ministry after it announced last month that it was considering the move.
“However, if the federal government and the ministry plan to make PdPR mandatory, we have proposed a three-day school week instead,” Fouzi told Twentytwo13.
“There should not be a full implementation, as it will lead to high absenteeism.”
On April 1, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that civil servants in ministries, agencies, statutory bodies and government-linked companies would transition to remote work from April 15. The policy aims to reduce fuel consumption and ensure a stable energy supply.
Fouzi also noted that the first quarter of the school calendar is nearly over.
“Time is moving fast. Form Five students are expected to sit for their trial Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations in June and July, and teachers are working hard to ensure students are prepared.
“While we are feeling the impact of the conflict in the Middle East, we must ensure that learning in schools is not disrupted,” he said.
