Quality and Portions of Meals Served at Student Care Centres and Whether Meals Adhere to Set Standards

Ms See Jinli Jean asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) whether the Ministry monitors the quality and portion size of the meals served in student care centres (SSC) and if they adhere to the Singapore Standard 692 (SS692) on Guidelines for Nutrition and Food Services for Infants and Children; (b) if so, what are the Ministry’s observations and, if not, why not; (c) what proportion of SSCs currently serve meals that adhere to SS692; and (d) how does the Ministry plan to nudge SSCs that do not adhere to SS692.

There is currently a wide range of after-school care options catering to different needs and preferences of parents and their children. These range from school-based and community-based Student Care Centres (SCCs) to informal arrangements with neighbours and family members in the community.

For SCCs which are registered with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) for the purpose of administering the Student Care Fee Assistance scheme, MSF does impose basic requirements, such as meal provision and communicating the menu to parents. SCCs are encouraged, but there is currently no requirement, to adopt the Singapore Standard 692 guidelines.