The Institute of Early Childhood Development (IECD) is pleased to invite members of the local media to a press conference to provide more information and insights on the newly launched Child Care Benefit Information System Seychelles (CBISS). The press conference will be held at the IECD Head Office, Fairview House, Ile Perseverance on Thursday 18th July, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
Launched on 5th June, 2024, CBISS is a collaborative effort between the IECD / UNESCO Category 2 Institute, and the Department of Information Communications Technology (DICT). This innovative digital platform aims to streamline the administration of the Government Financial Assistance scheme for child care service providers and parents, making it more efficient and effective.
Prior to 5th June, the financial assistance scheme managed by IECD on behalf of the Government relied on manual processes that were cumbersome and logistically challenging. However, with the introduction of the new online system, parents, guardians, and child care service providers can now access and manage their information with ease, streamlining the process for all stakeholders involved.
The CBISS platform is a centralized, user-friendly system that can be accessed from desktops, laptops, and mobile devices. It supports the entire process of child registration, including the submission of documents such as Parent and Child Registration Form, Child Transfer Form, Child Cancellation Form and Manager and Childminder Registration Form. The system also produces detailed reports to inform decision-making and enhance the overall administration of the scheme.
To date, a significant milestone has been reached in our scheme, with over 92% of the 2,280 parents having registered on the CBISS platform. To note, this month, we have launched the next phase of the project, the interface between IECD and Treasury in terms of payroll generation for payment which has been made directly through the CBISS platform for the first time, marking a major step forward in our efforts to streamline and improve the scheme.
The CBISS project is a testament to local innovation and collaboration. SPACE 95, a local IT company, was contracted by the DICT to develop this cutting-edge system.
With CBISS, we are taking a significant step towards enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of our services.
Background and Rationale
In 2020, IECD was given the mandate to oversee and manage the newly revised financial assistance scheme for registered childcare services, in collaboration with the relevant partners and stakeholders. The initiative provides financial support for parents to meet the costs of childcare for children aged 4 months to 3 years: The Government provides a sum of 750 Seychelles Rupees per child per month payable directly to the childcare service providers. This includes both childminders (in the homes) and child care managers (in a child care centre).
The other component of the benefit system consists of a financial contribution to registered childminders for staff salaries.
Although the transition of the financial assistance scheme from ASP to IECD has been quite smooth, IECD had encountered some challenges especially with the shortage of qualified staff, increase workload and the administrative activities associated with the flow of the existing inefficient manual system. The process involves substantial paper work, especially during the last and first two months of the year, when children are transiting from child care services to crèche education.
With the national drive for technological innovation in service delivery and in line with the Tashkent Declaration for the advancement of technology in ECCE, it was felt that there is a great need for further improvement and to introduce a paperless system to effectively and efficiently manage the scheme.
-END-
CONTACT:
Ms. Laurette Lebon
Project Officer of the Child Care Benefit Information System Seychelles (CBISS) Email: llebon@iecd.gov.sc
Telephone: 4286565
