Take-up Rates at School-based and Community-based Student Care Centres

9 Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry tracks the take-up rate of school-based and community-based Student Care Centres (SCC); (b) if so, what are the take-up rates respectively; and (c) whether programmes under these SCCs can be further enhanced to include additional enrichment activities.

The Minister of State for Education (Ms Gan Siow Huang) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) track the enrolment of students in school-based and community-based Student Care Centres, or SCCs. All 182 primary schools have SCCs, with a total enrolment of about 33,000 students. There are about 190 community-based SCCs that are registered with MSF, with a total enrolment of about 8,300 students.

MOE regularly engages school-based SCCs on their programmes. School-based SCCs are required to provide weekly outdoor programmes and enrichment activities, including reading, speech and drama, creative writing, music and art, to develop values, socio-emotional competencies and 21st century competencies in our students. All registered community-based SCCs are required to meet standards stipulated by MSF, which includes providing a structured daily programme for their students. These SCCs have the flexibility to offer programmes and additional enrichment activities to meet the needs of their students.

Mr Speaker: Mr Liang Eng Wah.

Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Bukit Panjang): Thank you, Sir. It has been quite a number of years since we introduced the SCCs. I believe they still serve a good purpose, especially for latch-key kids whose parents are working.

Now that this has been implemented for a number of years, can I ask the Minister of State if MOE would do a fresh review, to see if the programmes can be updated further or can be enhanced, especially, given the emphasis now to embrace learning beyond grades, so, whether the SCCs can be aligned to that as well?

Ms Gan Siow Huang: The short answer is yes, we will continue to review the programmes offered at our school-based SCCs. MOE recognises the importance of holistic development of our students and, as mentioned, our school-based SCCs provide outdoor programmes, enrichment activities to develop values and 21st century competencies in our students. And this is in line with our direction to go beyond grades.

Schools also work with SCCs and community partners to support Learning and Development of our students in different ways. For example, the National Library Board conducts reading programmes to cultivate the love for reading in our students. RSVP Singapore organises interest-based activities to engage our SCC students, so that they are imparted with life skills and values.

Mr Speaker: Mr Liang.

Mr Liang Eng Hwa: Sir, can I just follow up with another question about whether the demands continue to be there? The Minister of State mentioned 33,000 for school-based SCCs and 8,000 for the community-based SCCs. So, whether we have seen more or higher demand and whether there will be more SCCs to be provided, if so.

Ms Gan Siow Huang: Both MOE and MSF together monitor very closely the enrolment of students in both the school-based SCCs, as well as the community-based SCCs. As of now, most SCCs do not have a wait list, or they have a very short wait list.