Debated in Parliament on 2 Aug 2022.
Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what is the current infant care capacity taken up by enrolled children; and (b) what more can be done to spread the demand for infant care places in popular areas to other areas with capacity to ensure that such demand for infant care places is met.
There are over 12,000 infant care places licensed for operation today. Of these, about 9,700, or about 80%, are currently taken up.
The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) will continue to increase preschool capacity, where needed, to meet demand for early childhood services. Over the course of 2022, ECDA will develop 1,000 more infant care places in tandem with upcoming HDB developments to cater to the needs of young families. These 1,000 places will be provided mostly by Anchor Operators and exclude places which may be developed by commercial preschool operators.
In addition, for high-demand areas like Punggol where many young families are concentrated, ECDA facilitates the development of larger preschools in community premises and vacant state land. These larger preschools serve a wider catchment of families in the entire town. While families may have to travel further to these centres, enrolled children will benefit from the amenities these larger preschools offer, such as outdoor learning spaces.
Even as ECDA makes efforts to increase infant care places, we urge parents to broaden their choice of preschools where possible. For example, by considering preschools in adjacent neighbourhoods, near parents' workplaces or in the vicinity of grandparents' homes.
PAPERCUTS