Skool4Kidz in Tampines GreenLeaf Estate had the honour to host a visit from Mrs Josephine Teo, Senior Minister of State (SMS) in the Prime Minister’s Office, on 5 December 2016. She was accompanied on her visit by Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Parliamentary Secretary (PS) for the Ministry of Education & Ministry of Social and Family Development.
Speaking to the media during her visit, she said that enrolment at childcare centres had gone up by 60 per cent since 2012. The number of infants placed in childcare centres had also gone up to about 4,000 infants between 2 and 18 months old.
Mrs Teo, who oversees the National Population and Talent Division, said the government would want to look more into the infant care area to provide better support to the millennia families.
She said although the majority of parents still prefer to have their children looked after by family members or domestic helpers, the preference for centre-based child care is expected to grow further.
Dr Faishal Ibrahim said the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) had increased the number of infant care places to 6,900 in 2016, up by 32 per cent since 2013. He said ECDA was also looking into building more large centres in areas with more younger families and young children.
Skool4Kidz at Tampines GreenLeaf began operation on 7 October 2015 with a capacity for 115 childcare children and 10 infants. To date, the centre has achieved close to 90% of its full capacity.
Warming up to SMS Mrs Josephine Teo is Skool4Kidz Tampines GreenLeaf ‘s Audrina Seet binte Airil Seet from Nursery 1.
PS Dr Faishal Ibrahim and SMS Mrs Josephine Teo, accompanied by Skool4Kidz Director Dr Jane Ching-Kwan and the infants of Skool4Kidz Tampines GreenLeaf.
Speaking to the media during her visit, SMS Mrs Josephine Teo said that although most parents still prefer to have their children looked after by family members or domestic helpers, the preference for centre-based child care is expected to grow further.
Since its opening in October 2015, Skool4Kidz at Tampines GreenLeaf has achieved close to 90% of its full capacity, catering to 115 childcare children and 10 infants.