President Ali reassures of investment in childcare to support young professionals

President Irfaan Ali on Thursday reiterated his government’s commitment to expanding childcare facilities across the country to better support young professionals, particularly women in the teaching profession.

Speaking at the reopening of Christ Church Secondary School, President Ali emphasised the need for “targeted and serious” investments in child-friendly infrastructure and services. He said the government is determined to remove barriers that force women, especially teachers, to postpone starting or growing their families due to a lack of childcare support.

“In the last three months, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with many young women, particularly in the teaching profession, and one common theme keeps emerging — the need to postpone family life,” President Ali stated.

He noted that many young teachers are unable to plan adequately for caring for their children while fulfilling their professional duties.

“One of the biggest concerns raised was the lack of accessible childcare facilities. To address this, we have decided to invest in childcare infrastructure, not just for teachers, but for all young professionals. This will allow them to continue building their careers without having to delay other important aspects of a good quality life,” the Head of State said.

The initiative is expected to include the construction and improvement of childcare centres in various regions, with the goal of making them accessible and affordable.

In March this year, the President also unveiled plans for health workers, especially mothers, to benefit from full-day childcare services.