Number and Quality of School-based Student Care Centres

Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Education (a) what is the progress on providing student care centres in all schools; (b) whether the existing school-based centres are able to cope with the demand; and (c) whether there are efforts to enhance the programme offerings run by student care centres.

MOE has achieved our target of having a school-based student care centre (SCC) in all 185 primary schools this year, up from 170 in 2019.

The provision of school-based SCC places has largely kept pace with demand. Schools monitor the demand for school-based SCC places closely, and work with the service providers to expand their capacity, where appropriate, at a pace that does not compromise programme and service quality. Enrolment in school-based SCCs has increased from 3,000 in 2012, to 25,000 in 2019, and around 27,000 this year.

MOE works closely with our SCC service providers to ensure they offer programmes that promote holistic development of students, reinforce values taught by the school, and promote positive social interaction. For students with greater needs in our SCCs, schools work with community partners and the SCC service providers to further strengthen motivational support and resilience through meaningful programmes.