Think tank’s 10-point advisory for crèches
SOME OF THE GUIDELINES
MUMBAI: In the absence of any government guidelines for day care centres, a Mumbai-based think tank has come up with a 10-point advisory for the safety of children at such places. The advisory comes days after a ninemonth-old girl was assaulted in a Kharghar child care centre. The early childhood association (ECA) — consisting of 200 preschools and experts — has prepared directives for parents and day care centre owners to ensure the staff do not misbehave with the children.
Experts said children at day care centres are at risk because
a day care just because it is cheap. Check if they have adequate number of professionals
There should be at least one adult for three to four kids, who are less than a year old.
the government does not have any regulation over the sector. “Anybody can start a day care in India. There are no restrictions or licences required by the government,” said Swati Popat Vats, president of the ECA and Podar Education Network. Train teachers and support staff on handling children
Ask them to sign an undertaking, which will cover policies and highlight that if they are caught abusing kids, they will be handed over to police.
What’s worse, even teachers and attendants do not have to be qualified for the work, unlike in countries like the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates where staff needs to be qualified in baby-sitting courses.
“In India, the education and women and child development ministry are fighting over which department should look after day care centres,” said Vats. “Education officials shirk responsibility since day cares don’t impart education, while the ministry of women is also not regulating it.”
So the guidelines insist on the owners conducting background checks and police verifications while hiring staff. “Parents must make it a point to demand these checks if they are not done by the centres,” said Vats. Another directive suggests training the support staff who help caretakers look after the children.