KUALA LUMPUR: Kindergarten and childcare centre operators expressed hope that they can fully reopen soon as prolonged lockdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic have not only badly impacted their operations but also hindered students' learning progress.
Anis Sofia, the operations manager for Tadika Houri Elit and Tadika Tunas Houri Elit as well as Taska Tunas Houri Elit and Taska Taman Ihsan said although they were permitted to open by the government, they are, however, restricted to only having children whose parents are working.
"Currently, the district Education Office and the Social Welfare Department have stated that only children with working parents can take their children to kindergarten or childcare centres.
"Parents must provide an International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) certified letter as proof and we need to keep that for attendance documentation.
"Generally, this does impact our income as only half of my overall students can attend classes physically due to the restriction," she told the New Straits Times.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that kindergartens and child care centres would be opened in states under Phases One and Two of the National Recovery Plan with the condition that both parents are working and the staff at the centres are fully vaccinated.
Anis said kindergartens and child care centres should be allowed to fully reopen as some of her students were being left behind in education.
"Usually, our 6-year-old students are able to read Bahasa Melayu and English fluently but due to the current situation, not all of them can do so.
"This is worrying because they are entering primary school in (a few) months. In most cases, it is due to their lack of focus during home-based learning as not all children have the capability to focus during online sessions."
Anis explained that currently her staff are working on an alternate basis as they could no longer afford to pay full salaries.
"For now, we only can afford their basic salary, no allowance will be given such as attendance allowance, management allowance and petrol allowance."
Anis acknowledged that kindergarten and childcare centre operators must be vigilant with the standard operating procedures and ensured that all parents and teachers are fully vaccinated before the industry fully reopened.
Separately, fitness instructor Alvin Chin, 40, said he was glad to be able to head back to the gym after being unable to conduct physical BodyJam classes for the past four months due to Covid-19 restrictions.
"I am looking forward to hitting the gym with my members. It is less fun when one has to work out alone. We will be very mindful of the SOPs to curb the potential virus spread," said Chin, who has been attached to a gym and fitness centre in Klang for seven years.
Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker today said gyms in states under Phase Two and Three of the National Recovery Plan will be open from tomorrow.
Fitness enthusiasts as well as its operators must be fully vaccinated and they must adhere to the mask up rules, physical distancing and practice sanitisation of hands and equipment.