(Bandar Seri Begawan, 27th) The Department of Community Development (JAPEM) under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) has noted an article published in the Borneo Bulletin’s commentary section on January 24, 2026 (Saturday), titled “Pragmatic Review Needed for Childcare Policy”, written by “Working Parents”, as well as various concerns, questions, and opinions expressed by the public on social media regarding childcare issues for children aged three and above.
The Department of Community Development hereby informs the public that according to the Childcare Centres Act (Chapter 218, Revised 2012), centres providing care for children under three years old must register with JAPEM.
On the other hand, institutions carrying out learning activities for children aged three up to below four fall under the jurisdiction of the Education Act (Chapter 210, Revised 2011), and must be registered with the Ministry of Education as pre-school institutions. These age requirements are set to ensure that children receive appropriate care and a safe environment suitable to their developmental stage.
The age restrictions stipulated in the two Acts are designed to ensure that childcare services are provided according to the different age groups, each requiring appropriate levels of care, continuous supervision, and an environment that supports the physical, mental, social, and emotional development of children.
The public is hereby informed that there have been no changes to the existing enrolment age restriction policies or regulations concerning childcare or early years education institutions.
Any confusion that has arisen may relate to special circumstances, such as children who turn three in a particular year, and according to current regulations will receive special consideration.
For children aged three and above, pre-school education/learning centres offer both formal and informal programmes. Formal programmes are typically held once daily (morning or afternoon), while informal programmes are provided by institutions registered under the Private Education Section at the Ministry of Education, with more flexible schedules, serving as an alternative option for parents.
In addition, some pre-school education/learning centres also hold a childcare centre licence issued by the Department of Community Development, allowing them to provide care services to children under three years old.
For more information about registered institutions, please visit the Private Education Section website: https://jps.moe.gov.bn/list-of-registered-private-institution/.
There are also several private educational institutions registered with the Ministry of Education that simultaneously hold a childcare centre licence issued by the Department of Community Development.
Such double licensing enables relevant institutions, with the approval of JAPEM, to provide childcare services for children under three; and, with approval of the Ministry of Education, to provide pre-school education services for children aged three and above, with the scope and conditions of services depending on the particulars of the respective licences.
Institutions holding such double licences include PGGMB Day Care Centre (at Kampong Sungai Akar) and Freda Radin Day Care Centre (at Kampong Sungai Akar).
In this regard, the Department of Community Development welcomes the owners of pre-school education/learning centres interested in applying for a childcare centre licence.
These licences, issued by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, aim to support the collective effort of meeting childcare needs through a child-centred approach, thus ensuring the continued welfare and well-being of children, parents, and caregivers.
Through the Childcare Centre Licence Assessment Committee (whose members include representatives from: Department of Environmental Health Services (Ministry of Health), Fire and Rescue Department (Ministry of Home Affairs), Department of Town and Country Planning (Ministry of Development), Registrar of Companies and Business Names (Ministry of Finance), Traffic Investigation and Control Department (Royal Brunei Police Force), and the Private Education Section (Ministry of Education)),
the Department of Community Development has granted several special considerations to childcare centre operators, approving them to continue accepting children who are already registered in the childcare centre and have reached three years of age during their period of care.
This takes into account several factors, including: children must reach three years of age by January 1 in order to enter pre-school; childcare centres’ planned year-long activities, such as educational visits and graduation ceremonies; and providing children with structured care until the end of their final term.
To reduce the burden on parents/guardians, childcare centres will provide annual services.
As of January 24, 2026, there are a total of 80 registered and licensed childcare centres nationwide. All of these centres are under the Department of Community Development.
The list of registered childcare centres can be accessed via the Ministry of Community Development’s website,
at: http://www.japem.gov.bn/Perkhidmatan/Pusat%20Penjagaan%20Kanak-Kanak.aspx
The Department of Community Development greatly appreciates public feedback to help us improve service quality. For further inquiries regarding childcare centres, the public may proceed to the Family, Women and Children Affairs Section on the third floor of the Department of Community Development, visit JAPEM offices, send an email to childcarecentre@japem.gov.bn, or contact the 24-hour hotline 141 or Talian ANAK 121.
These official platforms are intended to ensure that information and reported issues are dealt with promptly and effectively, and to prevent misleading information from disrupting public order or being misused.
The Department of Community Development hereby informs the public that according to the Childcare Centres Act (Chapter 218, Revised 2012), centres providing care for children under three years old must register with JAPEM.
On the other hand, institutions carrying out learning activities for children aged three up to below four fall under the jurisdiction of the Education Act (Chapter 210, Revised 2011), and must be registered with the Ministry of Education as pre-school institutions. These age requirements are set to ensure that children receive appropriate care and a safe environment suitable to their developmental stage.
The age restrictions stipulated in the two Acts are designed to ensure that childcare services are provided according to the different age groups, each requiring appropriate levels of care, continuous supervision, and an environment that supports the physical, mental, social, and emotional development of children.
Any confusion that has arisen may relate to special circumstances, such as children who turn three in a particular year, and according to current regulations will receive special consideration.
For children aged three and above, pre-school education/learning centres offer both formal and informal programmes. Formal programmes are typically held once daily (morning or afternoon), while informal programmes are provided by institutions registered under the Private Education Section at the Ministry of Education, with more flexible schedules, serving as an alternative option for parents.
In addition, some pre-school education/learning centres also hold a childcare centre licence issued by the Department of Community Development, allowing them to provide care services to children under three years old.
For more information about registered institutions, please visit the Private Education Section website: https://jps.moe.gov.bn/list-of-registered-private-institution/.
There are also several private educational institutions registered with the Ministry of Education that simultaneously hold a childcare centre licence issued by the Department of Community Development.
Such double licensing enables relevant institutions, with the approval of JAPEM, to provide childcare services for children under three; and, with approval of the Ministry of Education, to provide pre-school education services for children aged three and above, with the scope and conditions of services depending on the particulars of the respective licences.
Institutions holding such double licences include PGGMB Day Care Centre (at Kampong Sungai Akar) and Freda Radin Day Care Centre (at Kampong Sungai Akar).
In this regard, the Department of Community Development welcomes the owners of pre-school education/learning centres interested in applying for a childcare centre licence.
These licences, issued by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, aim to support the collective effort of meeting childcare needs through a child-centred approach, thus ensuring the continued welfare and well-being of children, parents, and caregivers.
Through the Childcare Centre Licence Assessment Committee (whose members include representatives from: Department of Environmental Health Services (Ministry of Health), Fire and Rescue Department (Ministry of Home Affairs), Department of Town and Country Planning (Ministry of Development), Registrar of Companies and Business Names (Ministry of Finance), Traffic Investigation and Control Department (Royal Brunei Police Force), and the Private Education Section (Ministry of Education)),
the Department of Community Development has granted several special considerations to childcare centre operators, approving them to continue accepting children who are already registered in the childcare centre and have reached three years of age during their period of care.
This takes into account several factors, including: children must reach three years of age by January 1 in order to enter pre-school; childcare centres’ planned year-long activities, such as educational visits and graduation ceremonies; and providing children with structured care until the end of their final term.
To reduce the burden on parents/guardians, childcare centres will provide annual services.
As of January 24, 2026, there are a total of 80 registered and licensed childcare centres nationwide. All of these centres are under the Department of Community Development.
The list of registered childcare centres can be accessed via the Ministry of Community Development’s website,
at: http://www.japem.gov.bn/Perkhidmatan/Pusat%20Penjagaan%20Kanak-Kanak.aspx
The Department of Community Development greatly appreciates public feedback to help us improve service quality. For further inquiries regarding childcare centres, the public may proceed to the Family, Women and Children Affairs Section on the third floor of the Department of Community Development, visit JAPEM offices, send an email to childcarecentre@japem.gov.bn, or contact the 24-hour hotline 141 or Talian ANAK 121.
These official platforms are intended to ensure that information and reported issues are dealt with promptly and effectively, and to prevent misleading information from disrupting public order or being misused.