Mohan Dallumal, the senior lecturer at Dika College, said the stop-start academic year will have an adverse effect on half a million children who will enter Year One in 2021.
Mohan, who has been an educator for over 40 years, said the two important lessons in education have been ignored this year.
“In education, there must be two things. We must be consistent and we must be constant,” said Mohan.
“The school year has been ruined by the Covid-19 pandemic and for the younger children, it will severely affect them when they move on to primary school.
“These children entering Year One are not prepared academically for the change.”
He said they have not been allowed a proper growth in school as they only went there for three months before Malaysian entered the Movement Control Order (MCO) in March.
Schools reopened in July but closed again last month.
He added with kindergartens unlikely to reopen again this year, the children would not be given the opportunity to prepare for life in a primary school.
“There are kindergartens which take their students to primary schools to show them what they would experience in the new year,” said Mohan.
“Some have their concerts and year-end plays to help prepare them for life after kindergarten.
“Going to kindergarten is not just about learning to read, write or to listen.
“Children are taught how to socialise. They will experience a big leap when they go into primary schools as the number of students will double or triple.”
He added parents should also look into the psychological wellbeing of their children who have been cooped up at home.
He also said parents should be careful about how they describe or talk about Covid-19.
“They talk about the disease and it could scare the children. They kept them at home this year but next year they are going to school.
“It is important for parents to speak to their children and explain the situation to them before they go to school.”
He added it is law in Malaysia for parents to send their children to school when they reach seven-years-old.
As such, they cannot hold them back a year.
Here’s a round-up of The News Normal today.
COVID-19 DEATH TOLL HITS 300
There were six Covid-19 related deaths in Malaysia today, taking fatalities to 300.
Overall, there were 869 new cases, taking the number of infections to 42,050.
A total of 725 patients were discharged from hospital, meaning 30,304 people have been cured of the disease.
MALAYSIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE APPEALS FOR MALAYSIA CUP TO CONTINUE
The Malaysian Football League (MFL) has submitted an appeal to the National Security Council (NSC) to reconsider suspending the Malaysia Cup competition.
The appeal comes after an application to continue the Malaysia Cup during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) which was presented by MFL through the Youth and Sports Ministry was rejected by the NSC yesterday.
WATER CUTS IN SELANGOR AGAIN
It seems like clockwork, but Selangor residents are affected by water cuts once again.
This time, over one million accounts in seven districts will be affected by the pollution of raw water resources in Sungai Selangor.
Selangor Water Management Board (Luas) said a foul odour measuring 8 TON (Threshold Odour Number) was detected at the LRA Rantau Panjang this morning, forcing a halt to operations at the LRA Rantau Panjang, as well as LRA Sungai Selangor Phases 1, 2 and 3, at 12.20pm.
WHEN YOU SHOULD REGISTER DETAILS AT PETROL STATIONS
Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said those who swipe their credit or debit cards at the fuel dispenser or use air pumps at petrol stations do not need to register their details.
Only those who interact with the staff or make payments to cashiers need to register their details.
“Those visiting workshops or manual car wash centres within petrol stations are required to register their details. For those visiting auto car wash centres or make drive-through payments, then there is no need to register,” he said during his daily press briefing.
He added those who make payments via the pigeon holes outside without entering the premises need not scan record their details.
DEADLY LANDSLIDE AT THE BANJARAN HOTSPRINGS RETREAT
Two guests at The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat died after a landslide early this morning.
“We are saddened to confirm that the bodies of two guests were found near the jacuzzi area within the villa by the Bomba rescue team at approximately 10am,” Sunway Group said in a statement.
“No other guests and staff are affected and all have been moved to a safe area.”
RECOGNITION AS PROFESSIONALS HINDERED BUT SOCIAL WORKERS LABOUR ON
What has happened to the proposed Social Workers Profession Bill?
There has been no news about the Bill despite plans to table it in Parliament by the end of this year.
