ID :
73919
Thu, 08/06/2009 - 09:07
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/73919
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TRANSIT HOME. REDUCES HOUSEMAID HEADACHE?
By Zulkiple Ibrahim
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 (Bernama) -- "Before going to work, I would drop my two sons at the school. After school a van would take them to a home where they would have lunch, rest and shower before leaving for Kafa (religious) classes.
"The van would take them back to the home after the Kafa classes before I
picked them up after returning from work," bank executive Tajuri Hamzah, 40,
explained his daily routine to the writer recently.
Tajuri and his wife, who is a civil servant, work in the city. The couple
has two school-going sons, aged seven and eight respectively. Their home is
Bandar Tasik Puteri, about 60 km from here.
"We used to have a foreign maid at home. But after my children started to
attend school, we decided not to hire maids anymore.
"I paid the maid RM450 monthly not withstanding other expenses. For the home
that took care of my sons during the day, I pay them only RM300 plus food and
van services.
"I no longer have to worry about what happens at home. Before, the maid used
to give us all kinds of headaches," added Tajuri.
Tajuri are among the working parents who do not wish to hire domestic maids
and are sending their school-going children to day-care centres also known as
'transit homes'.
"The transit home is not a new concept but is still not so widespread in the
country," said businessman Salim Hadi who operates a transit home for primary
school children of working parents in Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras near here.
"I charge a child about RM120 a month each. We provide these children a safe
place to stay after school and while waiting to go for their religious classes.
"They have a place to shower, eat and do their homework while waiting for
their parents to fetch them home.
"Taking care of children aged seven to 12 is not difficult as most of them
are independent. Their parents only need a safe place for them to stay after or
before school," said Salim, adding that his transit home does not take in
children aged below six.
"Taking care of small children need trained baby-sitters. If parents wish to
send their babies here, I would refer them to day-care centres in the
neighbourhood," said Salim, adding that operating a transit home need the nod
and clearance from the local authorities.
A transit home like that operated by Salim is not really a solution to
working parents who have infants.
"We still need a housemaid to take care of our two-year-old child. Sending
her to a day-care centre is an option but we are in the opinion of having our
daughter taken care of in familiar surroundings, that is our home," said teacher
Kasmah Kartimim of Kuang, Sungai Buloh near here.
According to Kasmah, sending a child to day-care centres would also cause
problems.
"Some centres charge by the hour. If we are late in fetching our child, then
the rate goes higher. With a maid at home, we can go straight home from work.
There is no need to travel elsewhwere to fetch the baby from day-care centres or
baby-sitter," she said.
Kasmah summed it all: "The comfort and safety of children comes first. Be
it our own home, the transit home or day-care centre, as long as the children
are safe and well taken care, the parents would be happy and contented".
(US$1=RM3.50)
-- BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 (Bernama) -- "Before going to work, I would drop my two sons at the school. After school a van would take them to a home where they would have lunch, rest and shower before leaving for Kafa (religious) classes.
"The van would take them back to the home after the Kafa classes before I
picked them up after returning from work," bank executive Tajuri Hamzah, 40,
explained his daily routine to the writer recently.
Tajuri and his wife, who is a civil servant, work in the city. The couple
has two school-going sons, aged seven and eight respectively. Their home is
Bandar Tasik Puteri, about 60 km from here.
"We used to have a foreign maid at home. But after my children started to
attend school, we decided not to hire maids anymore.
"I paid the maid RM450 monthly not withstanding other expenses. For the home
that took care of my sons during the day, I pay them only RM300 plus food and
van services.
"I no longer have to worry about what happens at home. Before, the maid used
to give us all kinds of headaches," added Tajuri.
Tajuri are among the working parents who do not wish to hire domestic maids
and are sending their school-going children to day-care centres also known as
'transit homes'.
"The transit home is not a new concept but is still not so widespread in the
country," said businessman Salim Hadi who operates a transit home for primary
school children of working parents in Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras near here.
"I charge a child about RM120 a month each. We provide these children a safe
place to stay after school and while waiting to go for their religious classes.
"They have a place to shower, eat and do their homework while waiting for
their parents to fetch them home.
"Taking care of children aged seven to 12 is not difficult as most of them
are independent. Their parents only need a safe place for them to stay after or
before school," said Salim, adding that his transit home does not take in
children aged below six.
"Taking care of small children need trained baby-sitters. If parents wish to
send their babies here, I would refer them to day-care centres in the
neighbourhood," said Salim, adding that operating a transit home need the nod
and clearance from the local authorities.
A transit home like that operated by Salim is not really a solution to
working parents who have infants.
"We still need a housemaid to take care of our two-year-old child. Sending
her to a day-care centre is an option but we are in the opinion of having our
daughter taken care of in familiar surroundings, that is our home," said teacher
Kasmah Kartimim of Kuang, Sungai Buloh near here.
According to Kasmah, sending a child to day-care centres would also cause
problems.
"Some centres charge by the hour. If we are late in fetching our child, then
the rate goes higher. With a maid at home, we can go straight home from work.
There is no need to travel elsewhwere to fetch the baby from day-care centres or
baby-sitter," she said.
Kasmah summed it all: "The comfort and safety of children comes first. Be
it our own home, the transit home or day-care centre, as long as the children
are safe and well taken care, the parents would be happy and contented".
(US$1=RM3.50)
-- BERNAMA
