Ratio of teachers to kids at daycare centre matters

GEORGE TOWN: The ratio of teachers or caregivers to children in daycare centres seems to get a lot of attention among parents and operators alike.

Andy Tan, 36, whose daughter is now three years old, said he visited eight centres before choosing one that his wife and he liked.

“I factored in the safety aspects and price. I checked the ratio of teachers to children.

“The one we chose has a ratio of one teacher to five children, which we feel is good. My daughter is there full time from the morning until we finish work.

“So I made sure I knew the meal plans and how safe the premises were because sometimes, if the centre is a house, the toilets might not be appropriate for a child who is still being potty-trained,” he said.

Tan, who works as a marketing head, believed that as long as the classes are small and the teachers are with the children at all times, it would be safe.

“My daughter is three, so they are teaching her motor skills.

“As much as being a parent means worrying about my child’s safety, I do want to give her social exposure,” he said yesterday.

Michelle Kioh, who runs a childcare centre in Bayan Lepas, said becoming a mother led her to open the daycare centre.

“Here, we have a ratio of one teacher to three children.

“As a parent myself, safety and hygiene are of the utmost importance. Parents trust us with their kids, so it is our duty to ensure they are okay,” she said, adding that all her staffers are nurses and teachers who are trained to care for young children.

Kioh, 33, who started the centre five years ago when her son was born, said as she catered to babies from two months old to children aged four, the safety measures for them varied.

“Parents also emphasise their kids’ learning, so we teach them and keep them updated on the progress,” she added.

Penang Women’s Development Corporation chief executive officer Ong Bee Leng pointed out that the lack of safe and effective children’s daycares usually led to mothers leaving the workforce.

She said this was why workplace childcare was important, as it gave parents peace of mind.

“When the children are on the same premises as their parents at work, it is easier for the parents to go see them if there is a need.

“We are addressing this issue, and while the state government offers this to civil servants, there are now other places looking into it,” she added.

Ong urged parents to check if the prospective daycare centre was registered because that would ensure the centre was regulated.

“Parents must always ask about their children’s well-being if they see something odd,” she said.