Quality Childcare Must Uphold Children’s Rights - PPBM

KANGAR, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- The principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) must be put into practice through quality childcare to create better childcare centres and promote greater care for children’s well-being among families, communities and society.

Association of Registered Childcare Providers Malaysia president Adjunct Professor Norsheila Abdullah said quality childcare went beyond providing food, maintaining cleanliness and ensuring physical care, encompassing protection, positive relationships, emotional support, learning experiences, and respect for every child’s dignity and rights.

“We cannot only ask whether children have been cared for, but also whether they have been protected, respected, heard and given room to develop as individuals with rights and dignity,” she said in a statement today.

The statement was issued in conjunction with the 2026 National Childcare Day celebration themed “The Environment as a Driver of Holistic Child Development”, which was officiated by Perlis Women, Family and Community Development, Education, Unity, Welfare and Poverty Eradication Committee chairman Datin Marzita Mansor here today.

Norsheila said providing a safe, caring, inclusive and stimulating environment was a shared responsibility and should be regarded as part of fulfilling children’s rights.

She urged childcare providers, parents, families, communities and society to make the best interests of children the main consideration in every decision and action involving them.

“PPBM also calls for the principle of ‘no child left behind’ to be translated into childcare practices through an inclusive environment that responds to children’s diverse needs, including those requiring additional support,” she said.

Norsheila said children’s safety and protection must not be compromised, with everyone involved in childcare needing to be alert to signs of abuse, neglect and safety risks, and take appropriate action to ensure children remained in a protective environment.

She said children who grew up in a safe and caring environment had a stronger foundation for physical, emotional, social, cognitive, language and character development.

“Therefore, investing in early childhood development is a long-term investment in the nation’s future,” she added.

-- BERNAMA