By HAMDAN RAJA ABDULLAH
newsdesk@thestar.com.my
MUAR: The Government will provide incentives to encourage the private sector to set up kindergartens for pre-school pupils, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
He said the types of incentives were being studied and would be announced within a month.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to a Ramadan bazaar in Bukit Pasir here yesterday, he said among the proposed incentives were loans to set up and operate kindergartens, the training of teachers and tax incentives.
“We have decided that all pre-school children in the country should go to kindergartens. We will provide the necessary facilities to expedite the programme,” he said.
Muhyiddin said some 67% of 400,000 children attend pre-schools now.
“We want to increase the number by another 20% next year.”
Muhyiddin, who was accompanied by his wife Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman and Jorak assemblyman Dr Shahruddin Mohd Salleh, said about 800 new classes were needed next year.
He said the pre-school programme was among the development indices included in the National Key Result Area and Key Performance Indicator policies.
He also said the Government would also focus on eradicating hardcore poverty by the end of next year.
He said there were about 44,000 hardcore poor people in the country and plans were under way to help them boost their income.
He said another target set by the Government was for those earning below RM3,000 per month to increase their income by venturing into business.
He said about 40% of Malaysians earned about RM3,000 monthly and although they were not poor, the Government felt they could further increase their income by starting small-time businesses.
He said the Government had to ensure its Key Result Area and Key Performance Indicator policies were carried out successfully in two years. - The Star
0 comments:
Post a Comment