Many govt depts, agencies yet to have child care centres

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KOTA KINABALU: Many government departments and agencies in the state have not set up child care centre, said Assistant Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid.

She said the Tabika Kemas, Tabika Perpaduan and Yayasan Sabah Group through the Child Development Division, should cooperate with government departments and agencies to establish the centres.

Jainab made the call when launching the convocation of Kemas pupils for N.12 Karambunai at Wisma Muis here yesterday.

As a first step, she said they could start a centre in her ministry before expanding to other departments.

She said the proposal to set up a child care centre in every department was not new and it was now time for its implementation.

However, a proper study was needed to ensure the setting up of a child care centre in each department would be successful, she added.

“In view of this, my ministry will provide a course related to child care.

“I believe the demand for experienced trainers to take care of the children will increase when each department has its centre,” she added.

When asked whether the implementation of such centres in government departments would affect productivity, she said it would not.

“As I said before, a study is needed to ensure all  regulations are set properly to prevent parents from visiting their children during working time.”

She said the setting up of such centres would reduce dependency on foreign maids.

“We see and read news reports about problems brought about by foreign maids, such as the demand for higher salary, child abuse and kidnapping cases. With the setting up of such centre at the workplace, it can reduce the dependency on maids,” she said.

Jainab said having the centres would give an opportunity to parents to take care of their children during rest time.

“Currently, some parents have to fetch their children from school at certain hours and if the centres were set up, they no longer needed to do so,” she added.

Six hundred pupils from 13 Tabika Kemas received their certificates at the convocation.