Australia ranks 22 of 24 in the developed world for childcare services, local media quoted a U.N. study as saying on Friday.
The Child Care Transition, just released by the United Nations Children's Fund's (UNICEF) Innocenti Research Center, said Australia met just two of 10 benchmarks, namely, accreditation for early learning staff and provision of subsidized childcare services, for at least 25 percent of children under three, according to local newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald report.
UNICEF said the minimum amount that should be spent on childcare was one percent of gross domestic product, but Australia failed to make the grade. It also failed to meet the requirement of providing a minimal amount of paid parental leave, staff training and staff to children ratios.
The report showed Sweden ranked No. 1 in the world for childcare with ticks in every box. It was followed by Iceland, Denmark, Finland, France and Norway. Australia ranked 22 of 24, ahead of Canada and Ireland but behind the United States, UK and Mexico.
Source:Xinhua
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