The Education Ministry's decision to introduce daily cleaning duties in school is good but it needs the support of parents to succeed ("All schools to have cleaning activities daily from January"; Dec 12).

Unless this initiative is backed and reinforced by parents at home, the practice will not stick, especially if the home has a domestic helper.

When the students get back home, their parents could encourage them to clean up their own rooms.

Besides good habits, this move would also teach the students responsibility, that is, cleaning up after themselves, and respect for manual labour.

Ngian Kian Fah