MOST operators of childcare centres support the idea to make it mandatory to have closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) in their premises as a way to monitor abuse and other wrongdoings.

However, they also expressed fear smaller operators could face financial difficulties from installing the systems, which cost thousands of ringgit. 

They are asking if the government could provide assistance. The cost of the system, on average, is around RM10,000.

Sally Ng, the national president of the Malaysian Kindergarten Teachers Association, warned that CCTVs are not a be all, end all solution to curb cases of child abuse in childcare centres.

“While CCTV usage serves as a deterrent, if we were to look at reported cases of abuse at childcare centres, many of these centres had CCTVs installed,” Ng told The Malaysian Insight.

Ng said the key to preventing the abuse of children in care centres lies in having qualified caregivers.

She said kindergarten teachers are required by law to have a diploma in early childhood education if they want to be employed.

But strangely, she said, there is no such requirement for caregivers at childcare centres.

The absence of a vetting mechanism opens the possibility of unqualified caregivers abusing children under their care.

Ng appealed to the government to look into the anomaly and make it mandatory for caregivers to have the appropriate training and qualifications.

Woon Pek Poon, the president of the Kedah-Perlis Kindergarten Teachers’ Association, is positive that CCTV usage brings more benefits than drawbacks.

One of the benefits, she said, is the system acting as a “witness” for teachers from irate parents when their child gets hurt while at these centres.

“Children do fall and get hurt, and that’s when CCTVs would come in handy to pacify these angry parents,” Wong said.

“The centre could review the CCTV footage together with parents to determine how the child got hurt. A child getting hurt is not always due to abuse.”

She said CCTVs could also protect the reputation of care centres and the teachers from unwarranted accusations.

Wong said it would be more difficult for the centre or the teachers to explain an incident if there was no CCTV footage.

“Parents would sometimes not believe their well-behaved child could run around, fall and get hurt.”

However, Wong said despite CCTVs, things can go awry if teachers fail to control their temperaments and emotions.

Cost factor

Wong also shared the fears of small operators that the installation costs could potentially sink their centres and livelihoods.

She said most childcare centres in the urban areas of Kedah and Perlis have already installed CCTVs without a law forcing them to do so.

“Those on the outskirts, where they charge lower fees, might struggle to afford the costs. Making it mandatory might be tough for them.”

In 2018, the Perak government had passed a law requiring registered childcare centres to install CCTVs.

Lydia Looi, who holds licences for kindergartens and childcare centres in the state, said CCTVs serve not only the best interests of the children but also provides peace of mind for the teachers and caregivers.

“I often tell my teachers and caregivers not to look at CCTVs as something used to monitor them. I tell them CCTVs are a helpful tool because we can’t watch everything that happens in the classroom or elsewhere in the kindergarten or childcare centres.

“I tell them we have CCTVs to help us out. I remember once there was a very minor incident that happened in my childcare centre.

“There were two caregivers in the class, and a child hurt herself on her foot. She had a small cut.

“She didn’t inform the caregivers because the child didn’t know how she got hurt.

“Her grandmother queried us, so we reviewed the CCTV recording together. What we found was when the child sat down to take a drink from her water bottle, she accidentally scraped herself against a basket close to her.”

Looi, who is also a consultant of the Perak Kindergarten Teachers Association, said with CCTVs there is no guesswork on how a child gets hurt.

She said despite the hefty installation cost, the benefits outweighs it.

“It provides protection for everyone.”

On August 12, Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Nancy Shukri, responding to questions about a suspected child abuse in a Sabah childcare centre, said there is currently no legal requirement for childcare centres to install CCTVs.

She said the authorities were merely encouraging business owners to install them.

“We have previously made requests, but some disagreed because installing CCTV involves costs. We need to assess whether the costs are too high and discuss this matter together.”

She said CCTVs could restore parents’ confidence in the childcare centres they send their children to.

“It’s best for us to have CCTVs installed, especially for those managing childcare centres. They must adhere to this.”

Earlier in March, Nancy told parliament that mandating registered childcare centre owners to install CCTVs is one of the measures the Social Welfare Department is implementing to enhance the operations of childcare centres. –  August 25, 2023.