KIDS GLAD TO RETURN TO PRESCHOOL
Kindergarten, preschools follow strict S.O.P
“I WANT to go to school because I miss my friends and teachers,” said Muhammad Ary Arsyad Mohd Azhar, 5.
The pupil at Sri Kamariah Kindergarten (Adda Heights branch) here was preparing to begin his class as kindergartens and preschools reopen after four months.
His father, Mohd Azhar Mohd Sari, 33, said his eldest son was excited about attending classes again.
Azhar, an insurance agent, said he had faith in the strict standard operating procedures (SOP) in schools to stop the spread of Covid-19.
“My son has been looking forward to this day and woke up early for this. He has been asking me when he could return to school for the past few weeks.
“I was concerned about the safety aspects, but I am convinced that the measures are sufficient.”
Sri Kamariah Kindergarten (Adda Heights) manager Suhaila Halim, 34, said 20 pupils turned up yesterday and they were divided into two groups as part of the SOP to ensure safety measures were enforced.
In George Town, checks at SK Jelutong here saw children arriving at school accompanied by their parents.
They were told to line-up with a 1m gap between them and have their temperatures taken, apart from being asked to wash their hands before entering the class.
They were given designated areas to keep their shoes. Stationery items, such as colour pencils, were left outside the classroom, while parents were asked to wait outside the school compound for classes to begin at 8am.
State Education Department director Abdul Rashid Abdul Samad said 25,583 students resumed their classes. They comprised 7,845 students from 166 government institutions and 17,738 students from 465 private institutions.
“This (SOP) is the new norm. Their temperature will be checked and they will wash their hands before entering class.
“They will be given a light breakfast at 8am and a heavier meal later on before their classes end by noon.
“In Penang, we have key performance indicators to ensure zero Covid-19 school clusters.”
He said the reopening of classes for Forms Five and Six last week saw a 97 per cent attendance, which dropped to 93 per cent this week.
“We want full attendance, so schools will get in touch with parents to ask why their kids didn’t go to school.”
In Papar, 1,291 government and private preschools in Sabah have reopened and received pupils yesterday.
State Education Department director Dr Mistrine Radin said among the preschools involved were the ones operating in national schools (SK), Chinese national schools (SJKC) and private preschools registered with the Education Ministry.
“A total of 886 government preschools have reopened, involving 29,989 students and 1,326 teachers.
“For private ones, there are 405 preschools involving 24,081 students and 1,930 teachers,” she said after visiting the SK Buang Sayang here yesterday.
Present were Papar district education officer Suhaimi Matshah and SK Buang Sayang headmaster Basnih Maidin.
Mistrine said 18 preschools in areas hit by floods had not reopened.
These schools are in Papar (nine), Kota Belud (four), Beaufort (four) and Tenom (one).
The affected schools in Papar were SK Kaiduan, SK Belatik, SK Gana, SK Kambizaan, SK Kelatuan, SK Kimanis, SK Sumbiling, SK Tampasak and SK Daingin.
In Kota Belud, the preschools affected by floods were SK Pituru, SK Tempasuk, SK Sembirai and SK Kesapang. The temporary preschools in Beaufort affected were SK Suasa, SK Bangkalalak, SK Jabang and SK Lagong.
In Tenom, SK Inubai school remains closed until further notice.