Budget 2027 plan: Fadhlina pushes Kasih Madani training expansion to protect children nationwide

Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek plans to propose adding the Kasih Madani home childminder training programme to Budget 2027. This move aims to enhance childcare support and safety for working mothers across the nation. Fadhlina, who is also the MP for Nibong Tebal, emphasized expanding the program to certify more childminders, thereby improving the overall quality of childcare and bolstering the home childcare system.

The cause is deeply personal to Fadhlina, who has faced challenges in securing reliable childcare as a mother of six and a working lawyer. One of her children was abused by a childminder, an experience that underscored the importance of committed and responsible caretakers. Fadhlina recounted another tragedy—the loss of her fourth child to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)—which she attributes to the need for robust child protection measures that extend from home to formal schooling.

She stressed that child protection should be a coordinated effort, encompassing all stages of a child's life. The Kasih Madani initiative, currently managed by the Merdeka Center in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance through Yayasan Sime Darby, has already benefited over 1,000 childminders in four states, including Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Kedah, and Penang.

The training covers essential skills and knowledge, such as the Madani Childcare Pilot Course (Karisma), Madani Childcare Seminar (Semai), professionalization workshops, and community outreach programs, all aimed at elevating the status and dignity of the childminder profession.