XN000022-1994-06-14 — Page 8

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TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 1994

FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME EXTENDS TO DAY CRECHES

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO SEND THEIR INFANTS ΤΟ AIDED DAY CRECHES MAY RECEIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH EFFECT FROM SEPTEMBER 1 THIS YEAR.

AT PRESENT, ONLY PARENTS OF CHILDREN ATTEND ING SUBVENTED NURSERIES CAN APPLY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT (SWD).

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"THE EXTENSION OF THE FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME TO FAMILIES WHICH USE DAY CRECHE SERVICE IS TO MEET AN INCREASE IN SUCH A DEMAND, AN SWD SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE PAST DECADE HAD WITNESSED MARKED SOCIAL CHANGES SUCH AS THE PREVALENCE OF NUCLEAR FAMILIES, AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF WORKING MOTHERS AND THE GROWTH OF SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES.

AN

"IN ADDITION, THERE IS GROWING PUBLIC CONCERN ABOUT CHILDREN BEING LEFT UNATTENDED AT HOME. THESE DEVELOPMENTS HAVE LED TO INCREASE IN THE DEMAND FOR THE DAY CRECHE SERVICE,' HE SAID.

**

DAY CRECHES PROVIDE CARE AND CATER FOR THE DEVELOPMENTAL

OF CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF TWO.

NEEDS

THE SPOKESMAN SAID UNDER THE EXTENDED FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD DIRECTLY HELP PARENTS PAY THE DAY CRECHE FEES ACCORDING ΤΟ A SLIDING SCALE, BASED ON THEIR NET INCOME, UP ΤΟ THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE FEE.

"TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR A PLACE IN A CRECHE, A CHILD MUST BE UNDER TWO AT THE TIME OF ADMISSION.

DAY

"SUCH A CHILD CAN CONTINUP TO RECFIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UP ΤΟ THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR EVEN AFTER HE/SHE HAS ATTAINED THE AGE OF TWO," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

ELIGIBLE CHILDREN SHOULD ALSO MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING

CRITERIA:

*

CHILDREN WHO CANNOT RECEIVE PROPER CARE AT HOME AS A RESULT OF ONE PARENT WORKING PULL-TIME AND THE OTHER WORKING 104 HOURS OR MORE IN A MONTH;

CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS ARE CHRONICALLY ILL, DISABLED, OR IN LONG TERM HOSPITAL CARE;

CHILDREN OF SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES OR CHILDREN FROM BROKEN FAMILIES;

* CHILDREN THEMSELVES HAVING A NEED FOR FULL DAY CARE;

* CHILDREN CONSIDERED TO HAVE NEED FOR CARE BECAUSE OF SPECIAL

CONDITIONS OF OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS;

/* CHILDREN FROM