KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry and Women, Family and Community Development Ministry should communicate better so that conflicting instructions are not issued.
Several Opposition MPs today pointed out the confusing instructions and lack of communication between the ministries, especially regarding standard operating procedures (SOPs) involving education institutions.
Dr Maszlee Malik (pix, Independent-Simpang Renggam) said, for example, kindergartens in Pahang, a green zone state without any active Covid-19 case, are not allowed to operate but childcare centres are allowed to do so.
Kindergartens are under the purview of the education ministry while childcare centres are under the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.
“Parents have to go to work. Some parents have one child in a childcare centre and another in kindergarten. What are they supposed to do?
“The issue here is the lack of communication between the ministries and relevant stakeholders,” he said at a press conference in Parliament today.
Maszlee said the instruction for kindergartens to be closed while childcare centres are allowed to operate was strange.
Teo Nie Ching (PH-Kulai) said there is even more confusion in Johor.
She said kindergartens are allowed to operate following instructions from the state Education Department and this is causing confusion among parents and kindergarten operators.
She pointed out despite Pahang being a green zone, all the kindergartens there are still closed.
She said this is a good example of the two ministries not being consistent in deciding on the SOPs and instructions.
Hannah Yeoh (PH-Segambut) said if childcare centres are allowed to reopen, kindergartens should be allowed to follow suit.
She said young parents might have one child in kindergarten and another in a childcare centre.
“During a Zoom meeting with kindergarten operators, the feedback was that online lessons were not suitable for children under six.
“They are not capable of sitting down and paying attention to lessons on a screen and will get fidgety,“ she said.
She called on the ministries to properly discuss and set standard guidelines before making announcements.
