Childcare and Pre-School Sector

Madam, I have three points for the Minister's response. One is to say "no" to private anchor operators.

Madam, as a board member of two anchor operators, My First Campus and PCF Kindergarten in my ward, I have seen how not-for-profit pre-school organisations are able to focus on the core business of delivering childcare and kindergarten services without having to focus disproportionately on maximising the financial returns to its owners, as expected of private operators. The public-listed Australian ABC Learning, for instance, driven by bottom line and aggressive expansion, failed and fell into receivership in 2009, I believe. To ensure that the many children served by ABC Learning had a centre to attend, the Australian federal government injected more than A$20 million. ABC Learning was later bought by a partnership of non-profit organisations.

In recent years in Singapore, global organisations, such as Knowledge Universe, have acquired well-known pre-schools such as Pat's Schoolhouse and Learning Vision. Local operators, such as Cherie Hearts, had also embarked on ambitious acquisition plans. There is always a risk that ambitious private operators which occupy a large footprint of the pre-school sector can land up in the same fate as ABC Learning, affecting the lives of many pre-schoolers and their families. The purpose of Anchor Operators is to recognise that pre-schools are a public good and a tool of social mobility for the majority to ensure as many children as possible start at nearly the same starting point. I therefore seek the Minister's assurance that the public funds intended for pre-school anchor operators will not end up with for-profit operators.

Two, human resource. Good teachers are the key to a quality pre-school sector. The demand for teachers in the pre-schools is challenged by a similar demand for teachers in MOE and the rest of the private education sector. Despite Government's efforts, the feedback from the sector is that the compensation package of these teachers in this sector remain uncompetitive, compared to educators in the other sectors. I urge the Minister to study carefully and address this root cause or the industry will continue to face staffing shortage due to its lack of appeal to potential applicants.

Next, on future pre-school landscape. In an age of declining birth rates in Singapore, Madam, every child is a precious resource.

The setting up of the Early Childhood Development Agency by MOE and MSF and for MOE to start several pre-schools to drive improvements across the whole sector; are great moves I am keen to find out from the Minister:

One, if the Minister will consider granting childcare subsidies to (1) single mothers and (2) stay-at-home mothers who have to look after other children specially – since every Singaporean child is so precious;

Two, who these pre-schools, the pilot pre-schools by MOE, will specifically serve;

Three, what financial resources will be allocated to these pilot centres;

Four, what Government intends do when these pre-schools are successfully done; and

Five, is there a possibility that Government will seriously consider to take over the operation of the entire pre-school sector, run it as though it was running mainstream primary schools?