Vacancies in Kindergartens, Childcare and Infant Care Centres in Vicinity of Yishun Spring BTO Estate
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Derrick Goh’s inquiry regarding preschool vacancies near the Yishun Spring BTO estate and the Ministry’s capacity to meet demand from incoming residents. Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli B M M reported that Yishun has 9,200 childcare and 580 infant care places with 80% enrolment, plus 11 kindergartens with under 50% enrolment. He noted that many centres have vacancies and that ECDA coordinates with HDB to time preschool developments with new housing completions. By end-2022, anchor operators will add 170 childcare and 25 infant care places within the Yishun Spring precinct to support the new residents. This policy ensures that preschool services are accessible shortly after residents move into new public housing estates.
Transcript
24 Mr Derrick Goh asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what is the existing number of vacancies in (i) kindergartens, (ii) childcare centres and (iii) infant care centres in the vicinity of Yishun Spring BTO estate; and (b) whether the Ministry can meet the increase in demand from a large number of new residents moving into the estate in the second half of 2022.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: As of July 2022, there are 9,200 childcare and 580 infant care places licensed for operation in the Yishun Planning Area and the enrolment rate is about 80% for both services. For childcare, 34 centres have immediate vacancies, while another 27 are expected to have vacancies within one year. For infant care, six centres have immediate vacancies while five are expected to have vacancies within one year. In addition, there are 11 kindergartens in the Yishun Planning Area. These, currently, enrol 1,300 children, with an average enrolment rate of below 50% across two daily sessions.
To support parents' preference for preschools close to home, the Early Childhood and Development Agency (ECDA) works with HDB to develop preschools, in tandem with new public housing flats. Preschool development is timed so that residents can access preschool services soon after they move in. One hundred and seventy new childcare and 25 new infant care places will be developed by anchor operators in the Yishun Planning Area by end-2022. These places will be sited within the new Yishun Spring precinct.