The government is expanding support for community-based childcare centres as part of a broader push to empower women economically, says Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud.
The initiative, built around a co-investment model, is designed to help women establish and operate childcare facilities with state support, she said.
Persaud said women entering the programme will receive free training in childcare, alongside technical guidance to help them set up and sustain operations. “An asset would be being trained in childcare… we offer that for free. So we have our registration link open. Sign up, sign on, get trained,” she said.
Participants are also expected to have access to a suitable space, with the government contributing through financing or furnishing under various co-investment arrangements. Persaud said that the model can involve individuals, groups, faith-based organisations or civil society bodies working together.
“Government spends part of the money and a person, woman, or women will have something to offer that will together create enough to start,” she said, adding that the facilities must meet safety, accessibility and other standards appropriate for children. She said the ministry will play an active role in ensuring this is done.
The government will also guide prospective operators through feasibility studies to determine demand within their communities, she said, with plans for outreach to identify suitable locations and ensure services are placed where they are most needed.
The expansion of childcare services is intended to address a longstanding constraint on women’s participation in the workforce, Persaud said, noting that limited access has led some to delay pursuing their ambitions.
“Let’s face it, a lot of women out there have delayed going into the world of work, into careers, even into study, because childcare was not where it should have been,” she said.
At the same time, the government is encouraging operators to maintain affordable pricing as part of the co-investment approach, ensuring that services remain accessible to working families, Persaud said.
“If we’re going to invest with you, while you’re going to earn and we want you to earn, be affordable,” she said.
The programme is expected to expand the availability of childcare services across underserved areas while creating a pathway for women to move into business ownership within the care economy.