Photo via The Straits Times

School students sitting for SPM and STPM 2020 returned to school today (January 20th), but with the daily number of new COVID-19 rising, many are concerned that students going back to school may contribute to the high number of cases even further.

This, especially with the recent news about 18 students being tested positive for COVID-19 in Sabah.

Last night (January 19th), Twitter was flooded with tweets using #SuaraPelajar, calling for the Education Ministry (MOE) to review this issue in light of the pandemic showing no sign of slowing down, despite the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO).

The ministry has yet to respond to this movement, but one minister heard students’ plea and immediately worked to make sure their messages get the attention they deserve.

It’s unclear who started the hashtag, but it caught the attention of Muar MP Syed Saddiq, and he even set up a padlet link for students to list out their thoughts about the government’s decision on his Twitter account.

Dah ada 18 pelajar positif COVID-19 di Sabah. Menteri Pendidikan tetap akan buka sekolah untuk calon SPM & STPM esok.

Saya perlukan bantuan anda semua untuk mengumpul suara pelajar di Padlet & gesa KPM untuk dengar.

Boleh isi maklumat di https://t.co/xn6bShTjKy#SuaraPelajar

— Syed Saddiq (@SyedSaddiq) January 19, 2021

He even compiled a list of concerns from the Malaysian Twitter-verse, in hopes that the MOE will take notice.

12 tengah malam & kita dah terima lebih 680+ suara pelajar yang minta didengari oleh Menteri Pendidikan.

Ada juga suara dari guru & ibu bapa.

I am truly sad & worried for them. Their voice matter!https://t.co/xn6bShTjKy#SuaraPelajar pic.twitter.com/6xTEY6zj7X

— Syed Saddiq (@SyedSaddiq) January 19, 2021

At the time of writing, #SuaraPelajar has been used over 11,000 thousand times and counting.

What do you think about the whole situation?

by Kyle Roshen Jacob