SIBU: Faced with a dwindling children’s population, childcare providers struggle to stay afloat amidst the escalating running cost.
Operators moaned of poor pupils’ intake with some opting to switch trade.
“The plummeting number of children population had compelled several operators to close shop to avoid further losses. Things certainly don’t look rosy for us as the rising inflation is giving us a tough time,” a supervisor at a childcare centre, Yong Shoon Ing, complained to The Borneo Post yesterday.
Lamented Yong: “The higher cost of living is breathing down our necks as we are hard pressed by the high running cost such as salaries, utility charges and others.”
Asked reasons for the dwindling number of children, she figured some parents had opted to send their young ones to kindergartens despite being below three.
She recalled they suffered huge losses when childcare centres were instructed to close when the hand-foot-mouth-disease (HFDM) was at its height years back.
Association of Registered Childcare Providers, Sibu president, Mary Ngu Kee Chui, figured some parents may not be aware of the difference between childcare and kindergartens.
“Perhaps, to save up on education, some parents feel it is best to enrol their children direct at kindergartens,” Ngu rationalised.
She admitted that these were among the challenges faced by many childcare operators.
Yong learned that kindergartens were said to have classes for children aged two and half years, claiming, “they are charging much lower fee.”
This enticed some parents to shy away from childcare centres, given the tough times.
“But childcare centres and kindergartens are a different ball game altogether. At these centres, children are taught on the building blocks of education.
“Here, they learn about socio-emotional development such as how to mingle with people. Besides, they are exposed to physical development, literacy skills — language and grammar, problem solving and creativity,” Ngu clarified.
The president stressed that childcare helped built children’s academic foundation before they move on to the next level of education.
Ngu argued that without a strong foundation, children would be disadvantaged when they reached primary one.
Another operator, Jenny Bong, said children are taught how to become independent.
“They are guided on how to dress up and clearing their bowls after a meal. Over time, they develop higher self-esteem and confidence in themselves,” Bong remarked, adding that childcare centres and kindergartens played different roles in educating children.
On another matter, Yong disclosed that she was shocked to note of the high land premium when submitting her reapplication for license.
She reluctantly revealed that the centre foot out more than RM10,000 for land premium (five years period) and consultancy charges.