KINDERGARTENS are still waiting for the Education Ministry to release Covid-19 procedures ahead of their reopening on July 1.

Kindergarten associations told The Malaysian Insight they’re keen to know how many pupils can be accommodated in a session while observing distancing measures and other rules.

They said operating costs are likely to increase with the extra safety measures put in place.

Preschools have been shut since the enforcement of the movement-control order (MCO) on March 18.

Islamic Kindergarten Association (Pertim) secretary Siti Ruzita Ramli told The Malaysian Insight that operators expect the procedures to be similar to those at nurseries.

“If we follow taska, we already have an idea on the new norms, including social distancing, wearing a mask, temperature checks and shaking hands, which is not allowed,” she said.

“Social distancing should not be a problem as nurseries have started implementing it.”

About 50% to 60% of kindergarten owners also have nurseries, so they are familiar with the requirements of the new conditions, she said.

Classes may have to be split to prevent crowding and enable social distancing.

“The centres will have to come up with a schedule and maybe one session can fit up to 20 children,” she said.

“If three sessions are not enough, then they might have to do rotations, whereby the children will have to attend classes three to four times a week instead of five days previously.”

Malaysian Kindergarten Teachers’ Association president Sally Ng said their members are still waiting for the procedures to determine the curriculum and number of pupils in each class.

“We are not sure of the study hours, whether it will be four hours per day or shorter,” Ng said.

“There is no issue for us to clean and disinfect buildings and facilities.”

Fewer kids anticipated

Ng said some pupils might not return as parents may still be worried over their safety.

“We expect about 20% to 30% of our pupils will not return in July, as parents are still worried,” she said.

Siti Runiza agreed that fewer children will return when kindergartens reopen.

Revenue will be hit as operating costs rise with spending on sanitisation and providing pupils with items from learning materials to personal hygiene items.

“Some kindergartens do not provide food. But they will now have to find a caterer to prepare. That will increase cost,” she added.

And this is on top of fixed costs, such as rent and salaries.

Ng said parents will have to provide them with masks and the children will be told to bring their own stationery.

There will be added cost from disinfecting the facilities and preparing items, such as hand sanitiser and thermometers.

Siti Runiza said given the extra cost that schools will now have to bear, the fees will also increase.

Pertim, with about 900-1,000 member schools, is proposing that schools with low fees introduce service charges to cover extra costs.

As for schools already charging high fees, there will be no changes as long as they are able to cover their cost, she said.

The association is looking into mechanisms to aid lower-income parents who want to send their children to kindergartens but could not afford the fee hike.

Its member schools have 4,000 teachers and 33,000 pupils nationwide.

Staying afloat

Siti Runiza said many private kindergartens are not recipients of government aid, hence reopening is the only way to stay afloat.

She said about 80% of Pertim preschools are ready to reopen.

Ng also said kindergartens are eager to reopen after shutting for three months.

“But we haven’t received any official letter from the Education Ministry on the reopening. Hopefully, it will not change,” she added.

The association has chapters in nine states with each having more than 300 schools.

Senior minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said on June 15 that preschools and kindergartens will be allowed to operate from July 1.

The ministry is expected to unveil detailed procedures for kindergartens soon. – June 19, 2020.