KUALA LUMPUR: Early childhood care and education (ECCE) is not only crucial for effective learning, but also for getting women back to work.
Access to affordable and high-quality ECCE, a World Bank report found, can help raise the participation of women in the labour force.
World Bank senior education specialist Dr Aija
Maarit Rinkinen said with the child being in preschool – a safe and nurturing environment – mothers can go to work without worrying about their child’s safety and well-being.
“Coupled with after school care, preschool attendance can free up time for the mother to pursue more job opportunities, and encourage more women to return to work, part-time or full-time, as they have access to reliable, high quality and affordable childcare,” she told Sunday Star at the launch of the “Shaping First Steps: A Comprehensive Review of Preschool Education in Malaysia” report on May 30.
Preschool attendance has led to an increase in the probability of the mothers’ full-time employment, weekly hours of employment, as well as increasing their earnings, the report read.
Providing better access to (and lowering the cost of) high quality childcare not only benefit mothers’ employment, but also increases the family’s income and improves children’s learning outcomes.
Rinkinen said from a national perspective, women’s participation in the workforce is essential for economic growth and development.
“Malaysia could enjoy higher economic growth if all members of its society, including women, receive the support that they need to be productive economically,” she said, adding that a working woman contributes to the economy by paying taxes and increasing consumer spending.
“Working women help boost economic growth.
“Their participation in the workforce can also increase the family’s income, which can improve their standard of living and provide more opportunities for their children,” she said.
She said women’s participation in the workforce can provide financial independence and security, as well as create a more inclusive and diverse workforce.
“It is hence crucial to have policies and programmes in place such as affordable and high-quality early childhood education and care to support working mothers.
“Besides access to education, other policies to support working mothers such as more flexible working arrangements and subsidising childcare costs will also increase women’s employability,” she said.
