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KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development must communicate better so that contradictory instructions are not issued.
Several opposition deputies today pointed to the confusing instructions and lack of communication between ministries, especially in regards to standard operating procedures (SOPs) involving educational institutions.
Dr. Maszlee Malik (pix, Independent-Simpang Renggam) said, for example, that kindergartens in Pahang, a green zone state with no active Covid-19 cases, are not allowed to operate, but childcare centers can.
Kindergartens are under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education, while childcare centers are under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.
“Parents have to go to work. Some parents have one child in daycare and another in kindergarten. What are they supposed to do?
“The problem here is the lack of communication between the relevant ministries and stakeholders,” he said today at a press conference in Parliament.
Maszlee said the instruction for kindergartens to be closed while child care centers are allowed to operate is strange.
Teo Nie Ching (PH-Kulai) said that there is even more confusion in Johor.
She said kindergartens can be operated on the instructions of the state Department of Education and this is causing confusion among parents and kindergarten operators.
He pointed out that even though Pahang is a green area, all kindergartens are still closed.
He said this is a good example of the lack of consistency between the two ministries in deciding on standard operating procedures and instructions.
Hannah Yeoh (PH-Segambut) said that if nurseries are allowed to reopen, nurseries should be allowed to do the same.
She said young parents could have one child in kindergarten and another in daycare.
“During a Zoom meeting with the kindergarten operators, comments were that the online lessons were not suitable for children under the age of six.
“They are not able to sit and pay attention to the lessons on a screen and they will get nervous,” he said.
He called on ministries to properly discuss and establish standard guidelines before making announcements.
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