Fatimah: Govt to close kindies not following SOP
MIRI: Kindergartens and preschools in Sarawak that do not adhere to standard operating procedures (SOP) set by the government will be ordered to close with immediate effect, warned Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.
The Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development said abiding by the SOP is vital to ensuring the safety and health of children.
“If they do not comply, they will be ordered to close. Because at the end of the day, it is the children who will be affected. The safety, health, and security of our children is our first and foremost concern,” she told reporters a er visiting a private kindergarten here yesterday.
Fatimah said different agencies are monitoring all kindergartens and preschools to ensure SOP adherence.
She explained that Tadika Kemas come under the Ministry of Rural Development, preschools under the Education Department, Tadika Perpaduan under the Department of National Unity and Integration, while private kindergartens are monitored by the Education Department or her ministry.
Fatimah said based on surveys she and Assistant Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Rosey Yunus conducted, many kindergartens and preschools were found to be in compliance with the guidelines given.
“Teachers and operators are working very hard to ensure that children under their care can fully comply with teachers’ order in terms of the SOP. So I must congratulate them for this. A lot of efforts were done to provide a healthy and safe environment not only for the children, but also the staff and parents when they come to the kindergarten,” she said.
Fatimah said there are 2,865 kindergartens in the state with a total of 78,225 pupils, 5,400 teachers, and 3,758 assistant teachers.
However, she said only 2,385 or 83.4 per cent of the kindergartens resumed operations yesterday.
“For private kindergartens that have not resumed operations, they will start on July 20. For government kindergartens, mostly Tadika Kemas, a total of 461 have not resumed operations and will only start on July 15,” disclosed Fatimah.
She said all 236 nurseries in the state have resumed operations as they were allowed to start from June 9.
“The opening of kindergartens and preschools are important because they are also a support system for working parents. Early childhood education is also vital as it prepares children for formal school,” she added.