Fatimah (fourth left) and Pemanca Liu (third left) in a group photo after their meeting in Kuching yesterday.
KUCHING: Most parents are not aware that the government has a subsidy scheme for private pre-school children whose parents’ monthly income does not exceed RM500.
Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the programme was implemented in 2010 and pupils aged four and five years who attend private pre-schools registered with the Education Ministry were eligible for it.
She explained yesterday that the actual amount of financial aid to be given was based on the actual fee, but not exceeding the stipulated maximum figure.
For families with a per capita household income of RM300 per month, the maximum aid is RM150. For those earning up to RM400 a month, the maximum aid is RM112.50, while those whose income is not more than RM500 the maximum amount is RM75.
The amount for physically-challenged pupils is different. For those families with a household income of RM300 per month, the maximum aid is RM500, family income of up to RM400 per month (RM400), and family income of up to RM500 per month (RM300).
“No aid is given to pupils whose parents’ household income exceeds RM500,” she said after a meeting with Kuching-Samarahan Division Board of Management for Chinese-Aided Primary Schools’ Association at her office here.
Fatimah added that parents must apply for the aid through the respective school and payment would be made directly to the school concerned.
The government, she stressed, was committed to provide the best quality pre-school education available to all, and this could be seen through the range of subsidies and assistance for operators and teachers as well.
Among the benefits are a one-off start-up grant for pre-school operator amounting to between RM10,000 and RM20,000.
Fatimah added that pre-schools teachers would also be given a six-week curriculum training during school holidays.
“In the government’s efforts to provide the best qualified and excellent teachers, we encourage teachers to pursue higher learning to upgrade and improve their knowledge and skills by providing them with fee subsidies as well.”
But to enjoy these subsidies, it was essential to register pre-schools with the State Education Department.
“Pre-school and childcare centres, both public and private-run ones, should be registered with the State Education Department.”
During the meeting with the association’s chairman Pemanca Liu Thian Leong, Fatimah said the objectives were to discuss the application of five primary schools to set up pre-school as well as to hear issues facing Chinese-aided schools.
“At the moment, five primary schools have applied to set up pre-schools for the 2015 intake, while two schools – Chung Hua Sg Lubak and Chung Hua No. 1 – are running pre-school classes this year,” she said.
The five applicants are SJK Chung Hua Sg Tengah, SJK Chung Hua Buntal, SJK Chung Hua Sg Tapang Hilir, SJK (C) St Paul, and SJK Chung Hua Sg Buda.
“The Education Department will work closely with the association board as well as the schools involved on a case-by-case basis to ensure smooth implementation.”
Fatimah encouraged more schools outside Kuching and Samarahan Divisions to set up their own pre-schools.
On the misunderstanding that schools were only allowed to open one pre-school class, Fatimah clarified that one class could only cater to a maximum of 25 pupils.
“So, if the number of registered pupils exceeds that figure then another class can be opened. It is based on needs.”
As of this month, she said the state had 2,703 public and private pre-schools, including kindergartens, with 4,900 teachers for 4,815 classes and benefiting 78,514 children.
Statistics from the Education Ministry revealed that there were 1,093 pre-schools operating under the State Education Department, with 1,425 teachers, 1,425 classes and 26,299 pupils.
Meanwhile, the 172 pre-schools under the National Unity and Integration Department had 3,618 pupils and 332 teachers in 172 classes.
The State Community Development Department (Kemas) has 1,053 pre-schools with 1,519 classes, 1,519 teachers and 20,947 pupils.
The Education Services Bureau of Majlis Islam Sarawak registered two pre-schools with two classes, four teachers and 49 pupils.
As for private pre-schools registered with the State Education Department, there were 383 of such schools with 1,697 classes, 1,620 teachers and 27,601 pupils.