Single mothers to be trained as child minders

Source: NST Online, Local News

Date:2008/03/26

Single mothers to be trained as child minders

KANGAR: About 2,000 women, mostly needy single mothers, will be trained as child minders in a programme to be launched in Kuala Lumpur next month.
The Association of Registered Child Care Providers Malaysia has received RM5 million from the Finance Ministry to get the Projek Asuhan Prihatin (Concerned Upbringing Project) off the ground.Association president Norsheila Abdullah said each participant will receive five days of theoretical and practical training before receiving a certificate. The programme will be conducted in Bahasa Malaysia, Tamil and Mandarin."We will train at least 2,000 women in the basics of child care. Hopefully the program-me will lead to the setting up of 500 new childcare centres nationwide," said Norsheila after the launch of a childcare training programme for single mothers, the poor and Muslim converts here.
Though the programme is mainly targeted at poor single mothers, anyone who is interested can take part. Participants will need approval from the state welfare department, village committee or related association.Participants must pay RM10 for registration. Those interested can contact the Projek Asuhan Prihatin secretariat at 03-7722-1637.The Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Syed Sirajuddin launched yesterday's programme. Also present were the Raja Puan Muda of Perlis Tuanku Lailatul Shah-reen Akashah, the patron of the Association of Registered Childcare Providers Malaysia, and Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Md Isa Sabu.