The Malaysian Insight

KINDERGARTEN operators want to resume operations now under the conditional movement-control order (CMCO) rather than wait until next year.

They managed to operate for three months between July and October when the CMCO was imposed again, first in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Sabah on October 14.

Since November 9, the CMCO has been extended until December 6, and covers all states, except Perlis, Pahang, Kelantan and Sarawak.

Kindergarten operators told The Malaysian Insight they are facing cash-flow problems as many parents have requested fee reductions.

Teachers are also worried about the children, as online classes for younger pupils are not effective.

Johor Kindergarten Teachers Association president Cheong Siew Ngo said many operators did not want to push parents for payment as they, too, are facing financial difficulties.

“Only a small number of parents are still able to pay fees,” Cheong said.

She is also worried about the children’s development, as they had only three months of physical lessons and have lost the opportunity to play and interact with their peers.

“Pupils have not been able to experience many activities this year, such as children’s day, graduation ceremonies, family gatherings, living camps, etc… this has also resulted in a lack of social interaction between children,” she said.

If kindergartens are allowed to resume operations now, children would still have an opportunity to experience some of these activities before the year ends, said Cheong.

Malaysian Kindergarten Teachers Association president Sally Ng Chit Peng said the disruption to physical lessons and activities will affect six-year-olds preparing for standard one.

“The syllabus remains incomplete due to the shutdown for most of this year.

“Six-year-olds, who are preparing to enter primary one, still have to complete a major preschool syllabus before enrolling in primary school.”

Ng said it’s also difficult to teach young children online due to the children’s short attention span.

Furthermore, children in rural areas where the internet coverage is spotty may will be left behind.

“Children who take online lessons must also be accompanied by their parents. Some parents have to work and cannot afford to sit in with their children.”

Cheong, of the Johor association, said 90% of its 700 members are ready to reopen their kindergartens.

She said they are prepared with measures to follow the standard operating procedure against the spread of Covid-19.

Meanwhile, Ng said more than 90% of her national-level association’s 3,000 members are willing to reopen earlier.

The associations will continue to pursue the matter of reopening kindergartens sooner with the government.

“Since nurseries or childcare centres can be reopened, kindergartens should be allowed to operate,” she said, referring to the announcement by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun, who said on November 12 that childcare centres are allowed to operate during the CMCO, subject to the approval of the state Welfare Department.

In Miri, Sim Siew Fang, the chairman of the Miri Preschool Education Association, said parents who have paid fees in advance are now in a fix as they have nowhere to send their children.

“Sending the children to babysitters will also increase the cost.

“Kindergartens, on the other hand, can help parents in this regard.”

The Sarawak government allows kindergartens in green zones to operate but not those in yellow zones, such as Miri.

“We hope that Miri will become a green zone as soon as possible, and kindergartens can open as soon as possible. We also hope that parents can understand the difficulties faced by the industry,” Sim said. – November 20, 2020.