Daycare services gain momentum

With the increased participation of women in works and growing awareness about childcare, daycare service is slowly getting popular across Bangladesh.

A sense of insecurity among working mothers of single families about leaving their children to maidservants is also helping the business thrive.

Business people said that at least 100 daycare centres are now providing the service in the capital Dhaka. The number could have been more if there was no space constraint, they said.

Many families are also seeking the service for their children suffering from down syndrome for lack of socialisation, especially in the time of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Though many daycare centres initially shut their door in the Covid-19 pandemic as most working mothers stayed at home, they are slowly reopening their businesses due to a fresh demand.

With schools and educational institutions remaining closed for nearly one-and-a-half years, many parents said they are now preferring to take their children to daycare centres to avoid boredom and some socialisation.

Afroza Sultana Chowdhury, the owner of Happy Baby Daycare Center at Dhanmondi, said she closed her centre after Covid-19 hit the country.

But parents forced her to resume her business. The 23 babies that she takes care of now in her centre are mostly from frontline Covid-19 fighters, Afroza said.

“I achieved their trust. I am now planning to expand my business in other areas of Dhaka,” Afroza told The Business Post.

Lina Ferdous, the owner of Kidz Leadz Preschool, Daycare & Child Development Center at Uttara said she planned the same.

“I am involved in this business for nearly 11 years. As the demand for daycare centres is growing I am looking for spaces to expand my business,” she said.

Tania Islam, a senior officer of Pubali Bank, who keeps her baby in a daycare centre in Dhaka, however, complained that many private daycare centres were not adhering to the rules.

They do not follow children nutrition guidelines, which often makes babies losing their weight. They also don’t follow hygiene rules liking changing napkins timely, she said.

“If a daycare centre can stay away from this kind of issue it will easily gain the trust of parents,” she said.

Sonia Akram, a former student of Dhaka University at International Relations department, said she was planning to take the daycare business as her profession after completing a diploma on Early Childhood Development in Australia.

“I have worked in a daycare centre in Australia for around seven years and served there as acting director. After coming back home, I am now planning to launch my own business here,” she said.

Women empowerment

Bangladesh’s significant development in women empowerment also spurred the growth of daycare centres. According to a policy brief issued by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on May 2, 2021, the percentage of women workers rose from 29.85 to 36.37 in the past decade from 2010 to 2019.

The number of daycare centres did not increase proportionately, despite a legal obligation. Bangladesh Labor Act 2006 focused on ensuring daycare facilities, where at least 40 women are employed.

Working mothers said fewer institutions are following the rules, which left women in a challenging condition to continue their job and take care of their children at the same time.

A survey report released by International Finance Corporation (IFC) on November 6, 2019, titled Tackling Childcare: The Business Benefits and Challenges of Employer-Supported Childcare in Bangladesh found only 23 per cent companies were providing childcare, 16 per cent were planning to provide it while 61 per cent companies got no plan to provide childcare.

Exorbitant fees

The absence of government and corporate initiatives to provide female employees with daycare facilities made private daycare centres grow.

But the exorbitant charges asked by private daycare centres often make parents bemused.

After a visit to different daycare centres in Gulshan, Dhanmondi, Banasree, Lalmatia it was learnt parents have to pay monthly TK 8 to 12 thousand for a single baby.

Kakan Naher, 31, who lives in the Lalbag area in the capital, used to work as a nurse at a private medical centre in the capital. After giving birth to a child she had to leave the job.

“I was doing well in the job. But I could not concentrate on my job after giving birth. If there were institutional daycare facilities, I did not have to leave the job,” she regretted.

Sabera Akther, a doctor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said she is now often asked to do overtime and cannot look after her children.

Due to safety concerns, Sabera said she cannot leave her children to elder family members as well.

“The government daycare centres are closed for a long time due to pandemic. The children are getting addicted to the mobile screen as schools are closed. I am looking for a daycare centre in the capital but it appears they are very expensive,” she said.

Lack of facilities

The daycare policy issued by Jatiyo Mohila Sangstha on June 29, 2021, said daycare centres must ensure sports, entertainment for children and teach them social norms and values.

But parents said most of both government and non-government daycare centres lacked these facilities. Many daycare centres do not have proper toys for children and professional teachers.

The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs data, last updated on January 19, 2020, shows it operates 63 daycare centres. Bangladesh Shishu Academy operates 40 daycare centres with financial help from UNICEF while Jatiyo Mohila Sangstha runs 15 daycare centres.

Daycare outside Dhaka

Daycare service is now also available in the district level. Government data showed it was providing the service in several districts like Bhola, Cox’s Bazar, Chandpur, Faridpur, Feni, Gopalganj, Gaibandha, Noakhali, Naogaon, Rangpur, Tangail, Pabna, Jashore, Kustia, Dinajpur, Brahmanbaria, Bogura, Mymensingh free of charge.

Kamrun Naher Bhuiyan, daycare officer at Chandpur said they have facilities to look after around 60 children in their daycare centre.

About 40 to 45 children - mostly children of teachers, doctors, judges and government and non-government employees - take the service regularly, she said.

Why daycare?

Daycare centres focus on children’s physical, mental, emotional and social development. Researchers found those, who are from daycare are centres, are more socialised and active.

A study conducted by Sorbonne University, France found that daycare children are better behaved, more advanced and socialised than children who are cared for in at-home settings.

A World Bank report titled ‘Better Jobs and Brighter Futures: Investing in Childcare to Build Human Capital’ highlights that investments in childcare can increase women’s employment and productivity, create new jobs, improve child outcomes, drive economic growth, and support a more resilient and inclusive recovery from the pandemic.

Marufa Jahan, a clothing entrepreneur who lives in the Panthapath area in Dhaka said her daughter Albina did not speak until she was two.

“I took her to a doctor. The doctor suggested me keeping the baby at a place where many babies live. So, I keep her to a daycare centre. She learned speaking within one month,” said Marufa.

Faujia Moslem, president of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad said it was important for authorities to focus on increasing the number of daycare centres.

“As women are carrying responsibilities in every profession with skill. We have to ensure women carry their duties easily. This is why daycare facilities should be expanded,” she said.