KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has detected 95 childcare centres or taskas operating without a licence in the state, says Datuk Julita Majungki.
The State Women, Health and People’s Wellbeing minister said most of these centres are in the process of registering and awaiting approval or renewal of licence from local authorities.
She said some are pending approval due to stricter conditions from the local authorities and agencies such as the Fire and Rescue Department.
Nevertheless, Julita advised parents to send their children to registered child care centres, as they offer another level of protection against abuse or mishandling of care, compared with those running illegally.
She said registered child care centres are bound by strict rules and regulations prior to operating and during daily operations.
Julita said this after closing the state-level Taska Day here on Sunday.
She said there is a lack of child care centres in the state, with only 230 licensed centres currently operating state-wide.
Julita cited statistics showing that the population of children in Sabah aged four and under is expected to reach 445,000 by 2030.
“This situation means we need at least 110,000 spots in taskas state-wide to cater to this demand,” she said, adding that investment in early childhood education is vital for a child’s growth and human capital development.
Julita said recent news reports of abuse at childcare centres highlight the critical importance of parents choosing the right facilities for their children.
