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Strict measures before reopening

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Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah

KUCHING: Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah assured that standard operating procedures (SOPs) and precautionary measures would be taken by taska (nurseries) before their resumption on June 9.

She hoped that this would allay the concerns of parents.

“We have tried our best to ensure that these taska are safe for our children,” she said at a press conference on Special Annual Grant (GTK) for early childhood education institutions (IPAKK) at Wisma Kebajikan here yesterday.

She said when the federal government announced on Tuesday that taska would be allowed to resume effective immediately, her ministry had compared its prepared SOP with the one prepared by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

“We found that both SOPs were almost the same,” she said.

She said on Wednesday, her ministry’s SOP had been presented to and endorsed by the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), which also agreed with their suggestion on reopening taska in Sarawak starting June 9.

“Before the taska are allowed to resume their operations, they must conduct disinfection and sanitisation works at the premises. All equipment, tools, and utensils should also be cleaned,” she said, adding that the space would be disinfected daily.

She said the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) had assisted in premises sanitisation efforts, focusing on areas which had previously been categorised as red zones, such as Kuching and Samarahan.

Fatimah informed that as of May 28, Bomba had conducted 79 sanitisation operations at 771 IPAKKs throughout Sarawak, including 469 in Kuching, Bau (90), Samarahan (121), Serian (five), Asajaya (18), Simunjan (nine), Sarikei (one), Kanowit (two), Kapit (one), Mukah (three), Bintulu (27), and Miri (25) —with more expected following the Gawai break.

In addition, she said taska had to conduct briefings for teachers, staff and parents before resuming operations, as well as make preparations for social distancing, hand washing areas, and relevant signage.

“This is why we do not resume operations immediately even though the federal government announced so. Some taska have already prepared earlier and are ready to resume, but we are giving time for others to make the necessary preparations,” she said.

Prior to resumption, she said that taska also had to ensure that all teachers and carers are of good health and they have to complete a health declaration form before starting work.

“Taska operators should ensure teachers and carers control their movement for 14 days before the first day of operation. There should be staff training relating to good personal hygiene, health monitoring and examination, the correct usage of thermometers, and cleaning procedures,” she said.

During operations, upon the children’s arrival, Fatimah said the SOP included checking and completing a daily log book/checklist with parents, taking the children’s temperature, and washing hands using soap or a hand sanitiser before moving to the classroom or activity space.

“While at the IPAKK, social distancing is to be practised. The tables are to be arranged in such a way to accommodate this. Activities are planned so that they do not involve grouping,” she said. Furthermore, she said that briefings would be given by the teachers or carers.

“After class, the children’s temperature is taken again, they are to wash their hands with soap or hand sanitiser, the daily log book/checklist is returned to the parents, and the IPAKK space is sanitised for the following session,” she said.

She emphasised that visitors and parents would not be allowed into the taska at this time, as another precautionary measure.

According to her, there are 236 taska statewide as of May 31, with a total number of 3,707 children. “From survey feedback, most taska have made early preparations to resume operations.”

She hoped that the resumption of operations would help parents, especially those who are working.

Fatimah said that the SOPs for the reopening of taska would be accessible on her ministry’s website.

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