Day Care Centers Lack Guidance

User Rating: / 0
PoorBest 

The Comptroller General's Office released a study this month that criticizes the lack of clear regulation of the network of day care centers, one of President Laura Chinchilla's most ambitious projects.

Some seven a half billion colones has been invested in starting up the child care centers in the last four years without investors having a clear picture of concept, physical design or operation of the centers.

In most states of the United States, regulations are rigid with numerous permits from the Health Department, Fire Marshal and such entities required with clear ground rules set down for child safety and care.

So far, says the Comptroller, no such regulations are available here to guide investors. A new agency, the Center for Infantile Care and Development, was set up in the first part of 2010 but it has yet to come to grips with the challenge, the Comptroller says.

Moreover, the municipalities are inexperienced with the new centers, local communities and there is little participation of public institutions on a local level. The Comptroller's office has urged the welfare agency IMAS to set up official guidelines.

The watchdog agency is also urging more supervision in administrative contracting and physical design of the centers.

The centers were hailed as a landmark accomplishment by Costa Rica's first lady president, important as more women are incorporated into the workforce. They are vital both for one-parent families and for the growth of women entrepreneurial efforts.