Happy to be back in school

JOHOR BARU: The voice of children singing along and answering teacher’s questions is resonating again at Sri Kamariah Kindergarten Adda Height here after months of closure.

Children ran through the door and straight to the mini playground to play with their friends after getting their temperatures checked and hands cleaned with sanitiser.

While some could not contain their excitement of returning to school, others were still sleepy during classes and trying to adapt to the new normal.

Parents are happy that kindergartens have reopened yesterday.

Fazlina Abu Bakar, 32, said her son was doing nothing except watching TV all day and playing before this.

She said the kindergarten informed parents since June 22 on the standard operating procedure (SOP) and what they could and could not do before sending their children in.

“The school practises strict hygiene, which is reassuring so children can learn in a safe environment, ” she said.

A mother-of-two, Nadia Haron, 38, said her five-year-old son, Danial Iman Kusyairi and six-year-old daughter, Damia Sofia Kusyairi, were so excited to go back to school that they woke up at 6.30am.

“They are so excited to meet their friends, although they were a bit reluctant to return after being away from school for so long.

“I’m just happy to see them feeling excited seeing their friends and teachers, ” she said.

Mohd Azhar Mohd Sari, 33, said his son, Muhammad Ary Arsyad Mohd Azhar, five, was so excited that he even prepared for class a day earlier.

“The school taught parents and kids on the SOP imposed by the Health Ministry and they have also educated the children well in washing their hands, using hand sanitisers and not touching their friends.

“They had given the kids some homework during the movement control order (MCO) period, and the parents only need to monitor their children, ” he said, adding that the reopening would enable him to go to work worry-free.

Suharti Sudene, 32, is a bit worried for her son Muhammad Lukeman Anaqi Muhammad Hazreel, five.

“Teaching children to distance themselves from their friends is hard, they might follow at first. But when it comes to playing, they might forget everything.

“He is excited to return and I have reminded him not to touch his friends and I just hope that everything goes well, ” she said.

Meanwhile, Sri Kamariah Kindergarten Adda Height manager Suhaila Halim, 34, said some new activities included a face mask-making class, teaching them the correct way to wash hands and how viruses spread.

“We have 19 children at this kindergarten who used to study in the same class before the MCO. But under the new normal, we have divided them into two groups of nine and 10 children.

“The first group will go to class first, while the second group goes inside the playroom, and switch later, ” she said.

Last month the government announced that preschools and kindergartens can resume operations from July 1, and must adhere to the SOP imposed by the Health Ministry and the National Security Council. - Star