Just recently, our education minister came forward to assure Singaporeans that schools are safer for the young to be at this current time.
But we all know that when it comes to the coronavirus outbreak, it only takes one mistake for a cluster to emerge.
That’s certainly true for the Sparkletots centre at Fengshan Block 126 which became the second-largest cluster in Singapore.
All Sparkletots pre-schools were than shut for four days from last Thursday so that it could undergo professional sanitisation of its premises.
PCF has since reopened all Sparkletots except for the one in Fengshan.
PCF Sparkletots Centres Reopen But Some Parents Did Not Know About It
PCF chief executive Victor Bay said in a statement that 21,393 children attended school yesterday, around half of the total cohort of 40,000 children.
This was significantly lower compared with the rate on 23 March. On that day, there was an attendance of 29,632 children.
PCF Sparkletots centres have been experiencing lower attendance in the past few months as parents prefer to have their children stay at home or have made other childcare arrangements.
Sanitisation Measures Had Been In Place Prior To Professional Cleaning
Before the professional disinfection of the premises took place, the teachers had been cleaning frequently touched surfaces like toys, sleeping cots and shared learning resources.
Mr Bay added that this was “part of a regular maintenance routine that has been stepped up in January to safeguard the well-being of the children”.
At least one parent who spoke to The New Paper said that she has sent her 5-year-old son back to PCF Sparkletots @ Telok Blangah Block 44 because “teachers have confirmed that they have not come in contact with any of the infected staff at the Fengshan centre”.
She was informed that the pre-school has been thoroughly sanitised and she hoped teachers would don masks and gloves when taking the temperature of the children, and during mealtimes.
Lack of Updates Received By More Than One Parent
However, other parents have said that they haven’t received any updates from PCF Sparkletots @ Sengkang South Block 443 that’s attended by her 2-year-old son.
Thus, she has decided that it would be better to have him stay at home until she receives an update directly from the pre-school.
“I understand that different centres operate differently. I would like to receive updates on what measures the school has been taking, such as social distancing measures between kids,” she said.
Another parent whose 20-month-old daughter attends PCF Sparkletots @ Moulmein-Cairnhill Block 10 has also come forward to say that there has been a lack of updates from her pre-school.
“I sent my daughter to school today because I have to work, but I am worried, as I do not know what happens in school. More frequent updates will help to allay concerns parents have.”
Recap Of COVID-19 Cluster At PCF Sparkletots @ Fengshan Block 126
It was first reported that a teacher at a PAP Community Foundation (PCF) Sparkletots centre had tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.
- The teacher was on leave from last Wednesday to Friday but came to school for a few hours on Wednesday afternoon
- She had attended to some work but did not have lessons with the children and had passed temperature taking on that day
- Developed symptoms on Friday and promptly went to see the doctor
- PCF Sparkletots already has precautionary measures put in place since last month
- Precautionary measures include raising the frequency of temperature screening and ensuring personal hygiene of staff and students
- The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) ordered that the pre-school centre in Bedok North close until 7 April after more than one other staff reported that they have felt ill as of late.
It is now the second-largest coronavirus cluster with at least 26 confirmed cases, behind the Safra Jurong cluster.