Fatimah lists out criteria of quality childcare facility
KUCHING: Good infrastructure and facilities, rich educational curriculum and enrichment programmes as well as professional and passionate educators and caregivers are characteristics of high quality childcare.
Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah emphasised that a quality childcare facility and preschool provides safe, healthy, conducive and nurturing environment which are essential to prepare kids for kindergarten and beyond.
“Quality means this place will help children grow up to be quality human capital. Like I always say, quality human capital starts from quality taska (child care centre or preschool),” she said at the opening of Taska Cahaya Horizons yesterday.
“Taska is a very important learning space as children play, learn and grow in an environment that has been set up to enhance their physical, cognitive, social and emotional development,” she said.
Taska Cahaya Horizons, located at Jalan Stampin Tengah in Green Heights here, is set up with a friendly, fun, creative and inviting environment and equipped with an abundance of appropriate resources far above the minimum requirements.
After a tour around the facility accompanied by its chairman Datuk Lawrence Yeo and principal Corina Ng, Fatimah commended that Taska Cahaya Horizons has set the benchmark of a quality taska.
“This is what we want to see in Sarawak. I am impressed with this facility so parents should take the opportunity to give their kids the best and quality early childhood education possible,” she said.
“This is the gap between government versus private childcare facilities. We need the resources to set up such excellent facility,” she added.
Other than structural elements which cover aspects from square footage required per child, amount of outdoor space, to the myriad of other details related to the classroom, kitchen, bathrooms, windows and furniture, Fatimah pointed out the importance of quality teachers.
“Teachers must have qualifications in knowledge and skills as well as good attitude and values to nurture children and make important contribution to their lives because it will last forever,” she stressed.
As such, she reiterated the importance of professional development for early childhood educators and caregivers that helps to enhance their professionalism in order to provide quality education and care to young children.
“That is why we hold yearly programme like the ‘Randau Pengasuhan Taska Siri Ke 3’ organised by the Early Childhood Development Council from Sept 30 to Oct 1 for the preschool teachers,” she said.
The Taska Cahaya Horizons provides unique facilities and services including registered nurses, baby spa and massage, nutritious meals, mushroom pool, parental involvement and many more.
They offer full day, half day child care services as well as after school day care for babies (3 weeks to 1 year), toddlers (2-3 years), pre-schoolers (3-4 years) and kids (5 to 12 years).
Quality means this place will help children grow up to be quality human capital. Like I always say, quality human capital starts from quality taska (child care centre or preschool). — Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development