THE Government has allocated RM200,000 for government agencies and departments to set up in-house childcare centres.

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Heng Seai Kie told Zuraida Kamaruddin (PKR–Ampang) during question time that the Government was trying to provide incentives and a support system for women in the civil service by initiating nurseries at the workplace.

Zuraida had asked about the steps taken to increase women’s participation in the workforce and the number of nurseries operating in the private and public sectors.

Heng said there were about 60 nurseries in the public sector and 16 in the private sector registered under the Welfare Department.

On another matter, the House was told that four private local colleges had been fined between RM10,000 and RM60,000 for enrolling ineligible students for nursing diploma courses.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Hou Kok Chung said many complaints and feedback had been received on the matter.

Legal action was seen as the best option to control the quality of nurses in the country, he told Dr D. Michael Jayakumar (PSM–Sungai Siput). Dr Jayakumar had asked the ministry about the action taken to control the quality and number of nurses in the workforce.

Dr Hou said the nursing board had come out with a new requirement for those wanting to enrol in nursing courses. They must have at least five credits in the SPM examination.

The number of student enrolment had decreased to 7,841 last year compared to 10,025 in 2010.

-The Star-