KUCHING: The increase in fees at childcare centres in the state is inevitable due to the rise in the operating costs faced by operators in order to comply with the standard operating procedure (SOP) during the recovery movement control order (RMCO).
Sarawak Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said, nevertheless, the increase should be discussed with parents so as not to burden them.
“Childcare centre operators and childminders have more duties to fulfil in order to maintain hygiene and safety of their premises and equipment every day (to adhere to the SOP).
“This adds to their operating costs because they have to buy hand sanitiser, face masks for the workers and disinfectants,” she said after a visit to a childcare centre in Green Heights here today.
She said there are 236 childcare centres registered with the ministry and all are allowed to reopen today.
However, the fees cannot be standardised due to the different services that the centres provide.
Fatimah said parents sending their children to registered childcare centres in the state could apply a fee subsidy of RM180 a month from the Welfare Department.
Meanwhile, she said kindergartens in the state are still not allowed to reopen and the ministry is waiting for the Education Ministry to issue the SOP for kindergartens nationwide. – Bernama
