GEORGE TOWN – The state government is looking at extending the Childcare Assistance Scheme to kindergartens (tadika) in the near future towards making Penang a family-focused state.
It is also aimed at alleviating the burden of working parents from B40 families and increasing women’s participation in the workforce.
State Social Development and Non-Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Chong Eng said that currently, the scheme offers a monthly subsidy of RM50 (on the fee of each child of parents with a monthly household income of below RM5,000) to registered childcare centres (taska), on top of a one-off payment of RM1,000 for taska operators that charge a monthly fee below RM500.
“This year, the scheme is only eligible for children aged under 4, but we may extend it to include children under 6 who are enrolled in tadika.
“We will evaluate the public’s response and the budget,” she told a media briefing on the scheme here today.
The state government has allocated RM501,200 for the scheme this year, involving an estimated 707 children from the B40 group and 77 taska operators.
Chong said the allocation will be channelled to the state social welfare department in full for the purpose of providing the subsidy through taska operators.
The forms will be distributed to the registered taska operators from tomorrow, and to ensure a smooth application process, these childcare centres will need to submit the applications on behalf of the parents before January 29. – Bernama, January 5, 2021
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