NON-PROFIT childcare operators can apply for a new recurrent government grant from July as part of efforts to raise the quality of childcare services and make them affordable.

Announcing the grant, which will reach around $30 million per year in five years' time, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) on Friday said it is to 'enhance the quality, accessibility and affordability of centre-based childcare, so as to better support working parents.

'It is part of the Ministry's investment in the future of our children,' said a statement from MCYS, which added that these efforts are part of the enhanced 2008 Marriage and Parenthood Package announced in August last year.

Besides raising the benchmark for quality childcare services, MCYS hopes the grant will help operators to attract, recruit and retain better qualified childcare teachers.

The grant can also be used by operators to provide scholarships to their teachers, reduce class sizes, and provide learning support programmes for children who need more assistance.

Eligible operators would have to be non-profit, secular, of a sufficient size and possess a good track record in order to qualify for funding.

As part of the enhanced 2008 Marriage and Parenthood package, some 200 new childcare centres will be set up over the next five years to increase the number of childcare places, in addition to the current 755 childcare centres.

Since Aug 17 last year, subsidy for working mothers who place their children in centre-based childcare has been increased from a maximum of $150 to $300 per month per child.

The subsidy for centre-based infant care has also been raised from a maximum of $400 to $600 per month per child.

MCYS has also introduced a scholarship and bursary scheme for in-service teachers to upgrade their professional qualifications, starting in 2009. Teachers in all childcare centres are eligible for these awards.