KUCHING: Parents are called upon to put their confidence on kindergartens and nurseries’ operators when sending their children to the institutions.
Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the decision to reopen kindergartens and nurseries after flattening the curve of Covid-19 was due to the need to do so.
“We (the ministry) reopen the kindergartens and nurseries because parents who have begun to go to work again (after the movement control order) needed the services provided by the institutions in caring for their children.
“At first, we are aware that there are concerns among parents that sending their children to kindergartens and nurseries would make them at risk to the virus.
“However, they must have confidence in us. This is because based on our inspection, these institutions are in compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) set by the government such as carrying out disinfection works, conducting briefing to the teachers and parents and practising social distancing,” she said.
Fatimah revealed that to date, only one kindergarten in the state, which is located in Lawas, has been closed temporarily as an early safety precaution against Covid-19.
“The closure was not due to it not adhering to the SOP but instead, it is because a father of one of the children was tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.
“Therefore, we closed down the kindergarten for safety measures but it has been reopened again after the institution was confirmed to be safe,” she added.
She also admitted that the operation of these early childhood institutions was not an easy task. However, she stressed that the children were actually of high discipline in complying with the SOP.
