Chung Hwa gears up to battle SARS
By James Kon

The Minister of Education being greeted upon arrival by Mdm Kho (2nd from right), the Principal of Chung Hwa Middle School and Mr. Ang Swee Chuan (2nd from left), Chairman of Chung Hwa Middle School's Board of Directors.

Minister of Education having his temperature checked

Minister of Education shares a word with the Dentistry Unit's nurse.

Students working hard to clean the school.

Students cleaning in front of the anti-SARS banner

All smiles as students start to clean their classes

Yesterday marked the start of the anti-SARS cleaning campaign for all education institutions, colleges and schools in the country. As part of Chung Hwa Middle School's commitment to the campaign, the school officially kicked off the start of the cleaning campaign yesterday morning. Bringing awareness to students on the importance of a clean environment to fight SARS, to instil and cultivate the culture of keeping the environment clean at all times were some of the campaign's objectives. It also aimed to strengthen the 'cleaning culture' in the community especially amongst students.

"Ever since the mysterious SARS epidemic first broke out last November, it has - in recent months - claimed the lives of hundreds all over the world," the Principal of Chung Hwa Middle School, Mdm Kho said during her address to the school's Board of Directors, and the 1,600 students and staff who took part in the campaign.

"The school is aware of the dangers posed by SARS and we are taking all kinds of necessary preventive measures such as monitoring the health of our students, especially those who have gone abroad for their holidays and educating them (students) on the need to maintain strict personal hygiene at all times," she went on to say.

Shortly after her speech, the Chairman of Chung Hwa Middle School's Board of Directors, Mr. Ang Swee Chuan congratulated the government of His Majesty for successfully taking effective measure to prevent SARS from infecting the people of Brunei Darussalam.

However, he added that although that may be the case, "we cannot remain complacent" as the threat of SARS is still very real.

"Prevention is better than cure," he went on to say adding that the school has been keeping both parents and students regularly informed on the importance of personal hygiene, which is the most effective strategy in keeping the disease at bay.

In response to the call made by the Ministry of Education, he added, the school has gathered together all of the school's directors, teachers, staff and students in order to make the anti-SARS cleaning campaign a success.

Mr. Ang Swee Chuan and the school's Board of Directors welcomed the Minister of Education, Pehin Dato Seri Setia Hj Awang Abdul Aziz to witness the school's cleaning campaign. The Minister of Education was accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Education, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Suyoi, the Ministry's Deputy Permanent Secretary and other senior officers.

To officially mark the start of the cleaning campaign, the Minister of Education and Mr. Ang Swee Chuan sprayed some disinfectant onto a wall.

The Minister of Education took the opportunity to have a closer look at the Kindergarten section where teachers were teaching young students how to wash their hands properly. He also toured around the Secondary section and the school's exhibition gallery.

The Minister also had his temperature taken during his visit to the school's health unit.

As part of the Minister's commitment to inspect the school, he saw for himself firsthand on the conditions of both the school's toilets and canteen.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin