KUCHING : All kindergartens in Sarawak are allowed to organise graduation ceremonies provided the movement control order (MCO) standard operating procedures (SOPs) are adhered to, said Welfare Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
In announcing this, Fatimah stressed that the graduation ceremony would be subjected to 50 percent capacity limit.
“The 50 percent capacity limit depends on the size of the venue and must ensure that those who attend the ceremony can observe social distancing inside the venue,” she said during a press conference at Taska Sedidik Perdana Kuching today.
She also said the ceremony must not be held more than one and a half hours.
“Performances by the children are not allowed. Only simple activities such as presentation of the certificates and simple photograph sessions are permitted.
“Food must be packed for takeaways,” she added.
Fatimah also said body temperatures of the children as well as educators, teachers and parents had to be taken upon arrival as part of the SOPs.
“All attendees are required to wear face masks at all time,” she said.
She reminded kindergarten operators to hold graduation ceremony in series if the number of children involved is large.
“Additional precautionary measures might need to be taken if there are too many people, including educators and children, during the ceremony.
“However, such concerns are usually already addressed when we issue licenses for them to operate, so that there is no crowding,” she added.
Fatimah explained that kindergartens and childcare centres in the Covid-19 red zone area are still not allowed to reopen although the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) had allowed those in other regions to do so.
“Part of the SOPs included disinfection of the premises, ensuring educators or caretakers are in healthy condition, completing health declaration forms before working and the requirement for staff members to practise good hygiene standards before operations can resume,” she added.
In the state, 144 taska centres and 241 kindergartens in Sarawak had resumed its operation with about 7,611 children as of Nov 30, said the minister.
“There are 7,164 teachers and caregivers and 3,936 assistant teachers serving taska and kindergarten centres throughout the state,” she added.
