Govt to propose lower utility bills for childcare centres

SHAH ALAM: The government will discuss with utility companies to help reduce the high operational costs of childcare centres, said Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh.

She said high utility bills are a major factor as to why many childcare centres are not registered as the operators cannot afford the commercial charges imposed on them if they register.

“The childcare centres cannot impose high charges on the parents, so they have to bear the costs. This could result in them ignoring the standard operating procedures and guidelines that have been set for childcare centres.

“So the ministry is working with the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Council and childminders associations to register the childcare centres which have still not registered and find a way for them to reduce their operational costs,” she said in her speech at the closing ceremony of the Management and Science University (MSU) Children’s Festival 2018 and the National Early Childhood Education Week today.

Yeoh said the ministry is also drawing up a screening test to be taken by any person who wants to be involved in the children education and care industry to ensure the children’s safety.

“It would also ensure that childminders did not have a previous record as sexual offenders or abusers.

“We will also be working closely with the police, courts and Prisons Department to get information on potential childminders through the screening tests,” she said.