KINDERGARTENS nationwide are in a bind after parents refused to pay tuition fees despite being offered online lessons.

The nurseries have been closed since March 18 when the movement-control order (MCO) was enforced to break the chain of Covid-19 infections. The MCO has been extended until April 28.

Kindergarten operators told The Malaysian Insight the 42-day closure is taking its toll as teachers need to be paid while waiting for the MCO to be lifted and classes to resume.

Malaysian Preschool Teachers’ Association president Sally Ng said although 90% of kindergartens have offered 30% to 60% discounts for tuition fees during the MCO, many parents are still reluctant to pay.

“Parents and kindergarten operators have quarrelled to the point of mental breakdown. We have been constantly scolded and it’s full of pressure,” Ng said.

The discounts depend on the region the kindergartens are operating in, with some new village kindergartens having cheaper tuition fees to begin with, so the discount is not much, she said.

“If it is a full-time kindergarten, including childcare, there will be a lot of deductions, because the kindergarten cannot provide services at this stage,” Ng said.

A number of kindergartens are preparing for online teaching during the restriction period but some parents refused to participate.

Ng said some parents think since there are no actual classes during the MCO, it is, therefore, unnecessary to pay.

“This is not the case. We are still preparing for online teaching during the MCO, but some parents refuse to join and refuse to pay tuition fees. There was no room for discussion.”

Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Preschool Teachers’ Association president Tracy Ong said parents should fulfil the original agreement when they enrol their children in a kindergarten.

“I believe that before you enrol your child, each kindergarten states that it is a monthly fee system, so this is an agreement.”

Ong said some parents have the wrong attitude, thinking that they do not have to pay if there are no classes.

She said kindergarten operators are understanding and parents who are facing financial difficulties are welcome to consult with them.

“Some parents said that they’re willing to join us and we were very moved,” Ong said.

“Others were adamant and they did not want to talk to us when approached.”

Some kindergartens tried online teaching during this period and the response was good at first, but participation gradually dissipated and fees became a problem, she said.

“I sent homework through WhatsApp and invited parents to participate. But parents threatened to charge us a fee for teaching their own children.”

Kindergartens are waiting for the government to announce the start of classes, so they must charge to maintain their operations.

“We can’t close the kindergarten for three months on a whim and dismiss all the teachers.

“We have to be prepared for classes. Otherwise, we will be caught off-guard when the MCO is lifted. What will the children do then?”

She said most parents refused to pay tuition fees in April as they are worried the MCO will continue until May.

Ong hopes the Education Ministry will step in to resolve this issue.

As of yesterday, 85 new cases of Covid-19 infections were recorded, bringing the total number of cases to 5,072. The number of deaths stands at 83. – April 16, 2020.