TUMPAT: Day-care centre administrators, school bus operators and other child-oriented businesses can check the Welfare Department’s new database service to determine whether their prospective employees have a record of offences against children.
However, although the database has been accessible since early this year, it has only received three queries from would-be employers, as awareness of the service is quite low, said Women, Family and Community Development minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim.
"This service needs to be publicised as it is for a good cause, and it is also free.
“Many employers want to take workers, including drivers and guards, and it is better for them to do a screening," said Rohani at the double launch of the national Day-Care Centre Day and the Permata care course's Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) at Pantai Seri Tujuh here yesterday.
"We cooperated with the police (to compile the list) and it is very detailed. There are now 102 names (of individuals) and (their respective) offences (listed),” she added.
Rohani said the list is not meant to shame individuals – rather, it is to equip potential employers with all the information they need on a prospective employee before hiring them.
"(Employers) can send the names of prospective employees (via) telephone, (snail mail) or e-mail to the nearest Welfare Department.
“(Whatever the database reveals), the final decision on whether or not to employ an applicant is up to the (employer)," she said.
On a related matter, Rohani said the Sexual Crimes Against Children Court in Putrajaya has had 62 cases registered with it up to the end of last month.
She said 16 of the cases were from Kuala Lumpur, five were from Putrajaya and the rest were from Selangor.
"Out of the total, 14 cases have been decided on, and the rest have either seen charges brought or are on trial," Rohani added.
Meanwhile, on Permata’s MOOC, Rohani said its introduction will allow day-care centre operators, supervisors and workers, who are required by law to attend and pass the Permata early child care and education course (KAP), to conduct it online.
She said the MOOC was developed with the cooperation of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), through its subsidiary, UPSI Holding Sdn Bhd.
Rohani said under the Taska Act 1984 and Taska Regulations 2012, childcare workers must attend and pass the KAP, which covers all aspects of child-minding, early education, physical development, security, health, law and protection.
"With the MOOC, (day-care centre workers can study the KAP) through e-learning, anytime and anywhere.
"(However) although it is online, the Welfare Department has not compromised on matters of quality. Participants must do their practical at day-care centres, and examinations will also be conducted," she said.
Rohani added that the MOOC was planned following a Ramping up Early Child Care and Education Industry task force meeting, which looked into child care and early child education issues, and finding ways of solving them.
