SIBU: There is a high demand for childcare centres in the state.
Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah said working mothers need a system system for their young children.
“For example, if we look at the teachers alone in Sarawak based on last year’s statistics, there are 41,899 teachers and out of these, 29,722 are women,” she said after visiting the Destiny for Children Association Sibu here, yesterday.
She gave the example of teachers who needed a support system like childcare centres to take care of their children.
“The demand is very high. So I feel very encouraged with the idea of the Sarawak Teachers Union (STU), Sibu District Education Office (PPD) and Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union (KGBS) joining hands to look for the possibility of setting up taska (nurseries) here.
“This is because, we want to provide them with a support system. There are a lot of teachers and we want our teachers to be able to work and not having to worry about who would be taking care of their children when they are working,” she explained.
Fatimah encouraged organisations, associations, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to establish nurseries at home or at places close to schools and offices.
“And we are there to help because we need to look into the safety and health aspects of children,” she said.
The procedure and process of registering of nurseries is by obtaining the forms from the Social Welfare Department (JKM), she added.
On basic childcare course, she said nannies need to attend basic nursery courses to equip them with the relevant skills.
Fatimah (standing) during her visit to the Destiny for Children Association Sibu.
