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PETALING JAYA: Inconsistent SOPs for the education sector in different states have created confusion among kindergarten operators and families.
Former Education Minister Maszlee Malik, his former MP Teo Nie Ching, and former Minister for Women, Family and Community Development Hannah Yeoh said this today at a press conference in Parliament.
The trio, who asked the government for clarification, noted that most of the kindergartens in Johor have reopened following the lifting of the conditional movement control order (CMCO), but those in Pahang, which were not under the recent CMCO, remain closed.
Teo said that many kindergarten operators were confused by the ministry’s announcement that all schools would be closed from November 9 to December 17 and 18.
“Except for two red zone districts, all kindergartens in Johor can now operate. But in Pahang, which is a green area with no active cases, the kindergartens are still unable to open.
“This is a good example of how there is inconsistency in standard operating procedures and instructions from government agencies,” said the Kulai MP.
Maszlee blamed the confusion and predicament affecting many families on the lack of communication between the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Women’s, Family and Community Development, and stakeholders.
The Simpang Renggam MP said the unclear SOPs only further burdened parents as they were now allowed to return to work but could not send their children to kindergarten.
He urged the Ministry of Education to contact all affected parties and clear up the confusion soon.
Yeoh, meanwhile, said that if nurseries are allowed to reopen, nurseries should do the same.
“Some parents can have two children, one in daycare and one in kindergarten. They have called the hotline for clarification, but not even the hotline operators know the answer, “said the Segambut deputy.
He said that during a Zoom meeting held with the kindergarten operators, comments were that the online lessons were not suitable for children under the age of six as they were not able to sit and pay attention to the lessons on a screen. .
With the prolonged closure of kindergartens, many of the operators were also concerned about their ability to pay teachers’ salaries over the next few months, without the parents paying the fees.
According to Yeoh, the imprecise definition of educational institutions in the guidelines also left many licensee operators unsure whether they were allowed to operate.
She urged ministries to properly discuss and establish standard guidelines before making future announcements.
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