Childcare facilities for students
Childcare facilities for students
Year: 2024
Have accessible childcare facilities for students which allow recent mothers to attend university courses.
Up to three points based on:
- Existence of childcare facilities – maximum one point for free access, only 0.25 points for paid for access
- Evidence provided – up to one point
- Is the evidence provided public – one point
At MAHE, we understand that one of the key structural barriers to gender equity in higher education is the conflict between caregiving and academic engagement. To address this, MAHE has committed to providing robust, accessible childcare and daycare facilities, ensuring that student mothers can continue their studies with confidence, dignity, and peace of mind.
A Legacy of Care: The MAHE Daycare & Creche Programs
For over 35 years, MAHE has operated a well-established Daycare Centre for student mothers. This facility was founded to create a safe, nurturing environment where mothers can attend classes and pursue their academic goals without having to worry about childcare. Over time, the program has evolved, expanded, and modernized to meet diverse needs across age groups, campuses, and support services.
Key features of the daycare/creche infrastructure include:
• Multi-level care environments: Age-appropriate classrooms, a playground, activity rooms, a small library, and dormitory-style resting spaces.
• Trained staff: Professionals with experience in early childhood education and child development.
• Affordability and accessibility: Situated in convenient campus locations — notably in Manipal, with additional creche facilities in MAHE Bengaluru and MTMC Jamshedpur.
• Operational hours aligned with academic schedules: The Manipal daycare typically operates from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM on weekdays, with extended care in creche settings (e.g. the “Chiguru” creche at MIT campus operates from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM). Daijiworld+3sustainability.manipal.edu+3Manipal+3
• Modern child-friendly amenities: The “Chiguru” creche (inaugurated July 2023) supports up to 39 children aged 8 months to 7 years, includes theme-based rooms, modular & foldable furniture, CCTV for live parent monitoring, audio-visual learning aids, a toddler park, and developmental support (speech, hearing, brain-building activities) in collaboration with the College of Health Professionals (MCHP) staff. sustainability.manipal.edu+3Manipal+3Daijiworld+3
Dr. Ranjan R. Pai, President of the MAHE Trust, inaugurated Chiguru on 4 July 2023 at MIT, emphasizing the institution’s dedication to supporting working mothers on campus. Manipal
Supporting Breastfeeding & Maternal Well-being
To accompany the daycare infrastructure, MAHE ensures that breastfeeding is supported across campuses:
- Dedicated breastfeeding booths / private nursing rooms are available within daycare/creche settings, granting mothers a calm, private environment.
- Staff are trained to assist in breastfeeding needs and questions, helping mothers maintain lactation while balancing academic responsibilities.
- These facilities reinforce the continuity from childcare to infant care, creating a holistic environment of support.
Impact, Integration & Validation
• In July 2024, first-year MSc Nursing students and faculty from MCON visited the Chiguru daycare as part of a field learning and outreach program. Their observations and interactions highlighted the facility’s operations, children’s routines, and hygiene practices, and showcased how the daycare integrates health education for children. Manipal
• The development project for the Chiguru facility was designed by students in the Department of Civil Engineering under faculty guidance—a demonstration of cross-disciplinary engagement and institutional commitment to child-friendly infrastructure. Daijiworld
By ensuring that student mothers are not left behind—through reliable, accessible childcare support—MAHE embeds gender equity into the learning ecosystem. This infrastructure is not ancillary, but fundamental to the promise that educational access should not depend on caregiving constraints.