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BUOYED by its success this year, Back to School with Dad will return for a second time in 2008, with more companies pledging to give working fathers time off during the first week of January to send their kids to school.
Organised by the Centre for Fathering, the initiative emphasises the complementary role that fathers play in parenting.
Some 40 schools and 30 companies were involved in the pilot project this year.
Next year's efforts has secured the support of 55 primary schools and 45 companies.
At health supplements and food products group Cerebos Pacific, employees with children aged 12 and below can report to work at 10.30 am instead of 8.30am on Jan 2 when the new school year starts.
Its chief financial officer, Mr Ramlee Bin Buang said: 'We encourage a well-balanced lifestyle among our employees. Giving them time off for their kids will make them happy at work and increase productivity.'
Centre for Fathering chairman Mr Lim Soon Hock said: 'Fathers are often very busy. Accompanying the kids to school is a relatively easy task for them to undertake. School starts before they go to work. They just have to wake up early.'
Dr Adrian Lim Peng Ann, a psychologist, said that the first day of school is a milestone in a child's life and he will always remember his father's presence on that day.
'The father is a role model and the blueprint of what manhood is,' he added.
Mr Edward Lam, 42, has taken a day off work to drive his six-year-old son Christopher to school come Jan 2.
He said: 'I want him to feel secure enough to talk to me if he has any problems at school.'
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