Green light for daycare centres
Childcare centres, nurseries nationwide get go-ahead to reopen a er govt approves refined SOP
KUCHING: All childcare centres and nurseries in the country have been given the green light to operate a er the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for them has been refined. Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said previously, only 304 centres nationwide were allowed to reopen during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) with basic SOP in place, while the remaining 6,696 centres remained closed. “The SOP, refined by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, had been approved by the government. It includes the SOP for sending the child to the centre, for when the child is in the centre’s care, and for when the child is picked up. “The centre operators can refer to the ministry’s website and that of the Welfare Department for more details of the SOP,” he said at the daily press conference on Covid-19 security issues in Putrajaya yesterday. Ismail Sabri said the closure of such centres has been a major concern of parents, particularly those who are both working and have no one to help them take care of their young children. “It was also found that some private companies forced their employees to take unpaid leave if they wanted to take care of their children. “Now that childcare centres and nurseries are allowed to operate, I hope this will no longer be an issue for working parents,” he added. On the reopening of kindergartens, the senior minister said the Education Ministry will be coordinating the ma er. “Many pre-schools and kindergartens are under the purview of various ministries. As such, the Education Ministry will coordinate and come up with the SOP for their reopening.
The SOP, refined by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, had been approved by the government. It includes the SOP for sending the child to the centre, for when the child is in the centre’s care, and for when the child is picked up. Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob
“We will wait for them to come up with the complete SOP before deciding whether to allow the kindergartens to reopen in July,” he said.
Ismail Sabri also told the press conference that the interstate travel for marriage solemnisation is now allowed by the National Security Council (NSC).
“Those travelling will still need permit from the police, and all SOP of the CMCO must be complied with.
“There must not be more than 20 persons attending the ceremony; there must be social distancing and no hand greeting (salam),” he added.
On a related note, he also informed that the NSC has decided to allow pre-wedding photography to be carried out as it does not involve many people.
“It has been discussed and we agree to allow it since it does not involve a lot of people.
“However, all SOP must be complied with and it must be conducted out in open spaces or outdoors.”
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri revealed that police on Monday had issued compounds to 248 individuals nationwide for violating the SOP of the CMCO.
“Yesterday (Monday), the police had arrested 33 individuals for violating the SOP of whom 30 have been remanded while three were released on police bail,” he said.