KUCHING: Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said that all taska (nurseries) and tadika (kindergartens) are still not allowed to operate until the directive on their resumption is given after the conditional movement control order (CMCO).
In preparation for the reopening of preschools after the CMCO, she said that the Sarawak early childhood education institutions (IPAKK) post Covid-19 movement control order (MCO) procedure had been constructed as guidelines for taska and tadika operators and staff, as well as parents to ensure the safety of children.
“These standard operating procedures (SOPs) include the roles of taska and tadika operators, teachers, and parents,” she said at a press conference at the old State Legislative Assembly (DUN) complex in Petra Jaya yesterday.
She said one of the roles of the operators is to ensure that disinfection and sanitisation works are done prior to the resumption of IPAKKs.
“Operators also have to brief all staff, comprising educators and caregivers, on what they have to do before and during classes including using face masks as well as practising good personal hygiene and social distancing,” she said.
She said that staff of taska and tadika have to be in good health, with temperature and health checks done daily prior to entering the premises.
They would also have to complete a health declaration form before resuming duties at their respective centres.
“Educators and caregivers have to control their movements and avoid group activities,” said Fatimah.
She added that all taska and tadika employees who had just returned from overseas or been in contact with positive Covid-19 cases would not be allowed to resume their duties for 14 days.
“Taska and tadika operators also have to inform parents about the post Covid-19 MCO procedures before operating,” she said.
She said the procedures for parents would include the usage of face masks when sending their children to the centre, social distancing and hygiene practices, declaration of children’s as well as family members’ health before the first day of operation, log book filling, and so on.
Meanwhile, she urged pre-schools’ operators and teachers to start planning activities and programmes for the children which do not involve groups.
“They should also avoid sharing toys and learning tools,” she said.
According to Fatimah, there are SOPs for meal times, sleeping areas, washrooms, disinfection activities, and dismissal time.
She said the State Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) is also helping with disinfection works which focus on red zones, such as Kuching, first. She said many parents who had resumed work are requesting for taska and tadika to be reopened, and advised that parents could take turns to care for their children upon requesting for some leeway from their employers.
