SHAH ALAM - Child abuse at child care centres can still occur despite laws and regulations in place for a wide range of reasons.
Commenting on this issue, Yayasan Chow Kit Co-founder Dato Dr Hartini Zainudin said that the problem is that our child protection system has broken down, especially since the pandemic, where we have seen a 25 per cent reduction in the number of private day care centres and nurseries.
"Some possible explanations include lack of strict enforcement or regulations, inadequate screening and training of child care providers, and insufficient resources and staffing."
"The criteria for childcare centres and hiring child care providers can vary depending on the state, but some common factors that are typically considered include required qualifications, relevant experience, criminal background checks, and references from previous employers or clients," she explained.
Hartini further added that continuous training and development are frequently required to retain qualifications and provide quality care to children.
"There aren’t enough trainers and social workers to supervise, and the licensing regulations and requirements take too long.
"While regulations and standards are put in place to decrease the likelihood of child abuse, it is important to recognise that no system is perfect and that abuse can still occur.
"It is crucial for parents and carers to be vigilant and report any suspected abuse to the authorities so that measures can be taken to protect vulnerable children," she explained.
It was reported earlier that a woman had been held for further investigations into a child abuse case involving two children in Seri Kembangan.
Serdang district police chief Assistant Commissioner A.A. Anbalagan said an investigation had previously been carried out over a viral video on TikTok showing two children, ages 4 and 7, allegedly being abused while they were at their babysitter's house.
Hartini said many parents are unaware of how critical it is to select a registered home with all child protection regulations in place and to follow up.
"Overall, children's safety and well-being must be a primary concern, and stakeholders must collaborate to continue enhancing the quality and safety of childcare services, and we're not quite there yet."
Meanwhile, Suhakam Children Commissioner Dr Farah Nini Dusuki explained that even though there are laws in place, especially section 29 of the Child Act which makes it mandatory for child care providers to inform social welfare officers of suspected incidents, awareness of this law is low.
"Despite having the Child Care Centres Act of 1984, which provides for the quality control of the centres, the monitoring of these centres is not rigorous enough, allowing for operators to not comply with the minimum requirements for minimum basic training of child minders and a minimum ratio of minders to children, to name a few.
Farah further added that parents must also be more watchful and cautious when making child care decisions for their children.
"Both centres and private carers are available. Parents must conduct extensive background checks. Not to forget, speak with other parents. Do not rely just on social media reviews."