THE Penang government has set aside RM600,000 to assist nursery and childcare centre operators in the state, state executive council Chong Eng said.
Chong Eng, who is the state Social Development and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman, said the state government has approved the allocation on Sept 22 this year.
“The initiative is for a period of three years beginning this month (October).
“The allocation is divided into two categories. The first category is a maximum RM300,000 allocation for applicants who wish to set up nurseries and childcare centres.
“And the second category is a maximum RM300,000 allocation for the upgrading of nurseries and childcare centres. Each applicant can receive up to RM20,000 in aid,” Chong Eng told a press conference via Zoom today.
Chong Eng said the objective of the aid was to encourage more operators to set up nurseries and childcare centres.
“The state wants the children to have quality education from young, while encouraging more mothers to work.
“We hope that the operators, especially those run by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), can take up this opportunity and apply,” she said.
She added that the terms and conditions are stated on the application form.
“Those interested can get the forms from the Penang Social Welfare Department. We hope that more nurseries and childcare centres can get themselves registered,” she said.
Penang Social Welfare Department director Zakaria Taib said there were 135 nurseries that were registered with the department, while 50 of them were not registered.
“There are only 72 childcare centres that are registered, while 114 of them are not registered,” he said.
For more details, call Penang Social Welfare Department at 04-6505259.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis