Debated in Parliament on 20 Oct 2022.
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.
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.
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