Higher demand, enrolment for kindergartens set up by MOE
Curriculum, facilities, affordable fees among reasons cited
By Sandra Davie, Senior Education Correspondent, The Straits Times, 12 Jan 2017
Ministry of Education (MOE) kindergartens, which had a muted response at the start three years ago, are now seeing higher demand and enrolments.
Last year, there were 1,300 applications for places in the 15 kindergartens, which were set up by MOE to develop fresh approaches and best practices in early education. It was a 50 per cent increase from the 850 applications in 2015.
At four of the 15 kindergartens - at Punggol Green, Punggol View, Sengkang Green and Yishun - parents even had to ballot for places. The number of places varies from 60 to 120 at the centres.
The higher demand has also meant higher enrolment at the kindergartens. Currently, 2,300 children are enrolled in the kindergartens across the island.
This is a big change from the first year, when only about half of the 560 places offered were taken up.
Some parents had then cited the lack of childcare and school bus arrangements as reasons for the lukewarm response.
Curriculum, facilities, affordable fees among reasons cited
By Sandra Davie, Senior Education Correspondent, The Straits Times, 12 Jan 2017
Last year, there were 1,300 applications for places in the 15 kindergartens, which were set up by MOE to develop fresh approaches and best practices in early education. It was a 50 per cent increase from the 850 applications in 2015.
At four of the 15 kindergartens - at Punggol Green, Punggol View, Sengkang Green and Yishun - parents even had to ballot for places. The number of places varies from 60 to 120 at the centres.
The higher demand has also meant higher enrolment at the kindergartens. Currently, 2,300 children are enrolled in the kindergartens across the island.
This is a big change from the first year, when only about half of the 560 places offered were taken up.
Some parents had then cited the lack of childcare and school bus arrangements as reasons for the lukewarm response.
However, 12 of these centres now also offer before- and after-school care, up to 7pm. The programme, Kindergarten Care, is run by PCF Sparkletots Preschools.
MOE said four in five children enrolled live within 1km of their kindergarten, which indicates that proximity to home is one of the draws.
But several parents interviewed said they were also attracted by the fact that the kindergartens are MOE-run and are housed within primary schools, with good facilities.
A dozen of the centres are housed within primary schools.
Parents also liked the play-based curriculum and that all the three main mother tongue languages - Chinese, Malay and Tamil - were taught at the centres.
They also felt that the teachers were of high quality and the monthly fees of $150 for the four-hour programme were affordable.
Parent Cindy Ngo said: "The facilities were better than many other pre-schools I looked at... and my son had a lot of space to play."
Parent Cindy Ngo said: "The facilities were better than many other pre-schools I looked at... and my son had a lot of space to play."
Madam Ngo, who runs a small business, said she did not know much about play-based curriculum, but saw a change in her son Jun Long after he started attending the kindergarten at Punggol View.
"He was more confident and would ask his teachers a lot of questions. He is doing well in Primary 2 now," she said.
The kindergartens were set up to pilot innovative teaching methods and share them with the pre-school sector. These include focusing on learning through play, and placing strong emphasis on bilingualism.
A classroom, for instance, might be turned into a restaurant, so pupils can practise language and mathematics skills through designing the menu and role-playing.
Another highlight is that children learn through stories, songs and dances with a distinct local flavour.
Church caretaker William Andy said his son Aloysius, who attended the kindergarten at Blangah Rise Primary school, is now an avid reader.
"He brings back books from school all the time and asks me to read with him."
"He brings back books from school all the time and asks me to read with him."
MOE had said it was open to expanding the number of kindergartens beyond the 15 now.
Parents with young children welcome it.
Said former teacher Theresa Foo, 28, who has two children aged two and four: "All the research shows that early education is important and it has to be of good quality to give children a good start in life.
"And MOE has the resources to ensure that it is one of high quality."
"And MOE has the resources to ensure that it is one of high quality."
'Yes' to more MOE pre-schools
By Sandra Davie, Senior Education Correspondent, The Straits Times, 16 Jan 2017
It is heartening that Ministry of Education (MOE) kindergartens, set up to develop fresh approaches and best practices in early education, are now seeing higher demand and enrolments.
Last year, there were 1,300 applications for places in the 15 kindergartens, also aimed at providing high-quality pre-school education at affordable prices, at $150 a month. At four of the kindergartens, parents even had to ballot for places.
Currently, 2,300 children are enrolled in the kindergartens. This is a big change from the muted response in the first year, when only about half of the 560 places offered were taken up.
Some parents had then cited the lack of childcare as one of the reasons for the lukewarm response.
But the ministry was responsive in fixing the problem. It now provides before- and after-school care, up to 7pm at a dozen of the centres.
The 15 centres are located all over the island and figures show that four in five children enrolled live within 1km of their kindergarten, which indicates that proximity to home is also important to parents.
But another often-quoted reason by parents interviewed by The Straits Times is the education provided at these centres.
Several parents said they have come to see the benefits of the play-based curriculum at the MOE kindergartens. A classroom, for instance, might be turned into a restaurant, so pupils can practise language and mathematics skills through designing the menu and role-playing.
The MOE had said it was open to expanding the number of kindergartens beyond the 15 now.
It should, as there is mounting research evidence of the benefits of pre-school education, especially for children from disadvantaged homes.
But the caveat is that the early education and care provided must be of high quality.
The MOE has the resources and expertise to ensure that such education is not only of high quality but also affordable.
* 3 more MOE pre-schools to meet demand in Punggol
Kids from nearby childcare centres will be guaranteed places there under new model
By Priscilla Goy, The Straits Times, 9 Feb 2017
Young families in Punggol will soon have more pre-school options, with three more Ministry of Education (MOE) kindergartens to be set up there next year.
These pre-schools will be part of a new model in which children from nearby childcare centres are guaranteed places there.
The ministry said these moves are to cater to the high demand for pre-school services in Punggol. At 11 per cent, Punggol has the highest proportion of residents aged below five among all the towns.
The announcement yesterday comes three weeks after the Government said the town will have two more mega childcare centres by the middle of next year, with each offering 1,000 places, believed to be the largest for a childcare centre here.
The three new MOE kindergartens will be co-located with schools - Oasis Primary, Punggol Cove Primary and Waterway Primary.
They will each have about 240 places, a four-hour kindergarten programme and before- and after-school care, up to 7pm.
From 2019, all eligible Singaporean Nursery 2 (N2) children at four upcoming "early years centres" in Punggol will be guaranteed a Kindergarten 1 (K1) place in one of the three new MOE kindergartens or an existing one co-located with Punggol View Primary.
There are one to two MOE kindergartens designated for each of the four early years centres.
These centres - run by NTUC First Campus' My First Skool and PAP Community Foundation (PCF) Sparkletots - will admit children of up to four years of age, unlike most childcare centres that admit children aged up to seven.
Parents of N2 children in these centres can choose whether to accept the K1 place offered. Each MOE kindergarten will also have at least 20 per cent of its K1 places set aside for children who are not from these centres.
When asked if this partnership model will be implemented in other areas, Education Minister (Schools) Ng Chee Meng said: "We will wait and see the results of this new pilot, let it evolve and see what we can do even better for young children."
Mrs Loke-Yeo Teck Yong, divisional director for education services at MOE, said this model will enable the early years centres to take in more children aged two months to four years, as programmes for older children are offered elsewhere.
The operators of these centres said this model allows them to focus on serving younger children.
PCF chief executive Victor Bay said: "With this collaboration, PCF Sparkletots can focus all its resources on providing affordable, quality and accessible pre-school education for children till they complete N2."
Parents said they welcomed the initiative.
Ms Cleo Zhuo, 33, who runs a wedding card business and has a 13-month-old son, said she may consider enrolling him in one of the early years centres when it opens next year.
"It would be convenient since we won't need to look for a kindergarten," she said.
When asked whether she was concerned that her child might have to adjust to a new pre-school environment when he is five, she said: "I think it will be okay. Kids should learn to adapt anyway."
Registration for K1 admission next year to the new MOE kindergartens and the 15 existing ones will take place in April.
For more information, go to moe.gov.sg/moekindergarten
Related
Three New MOE Kindergartens in 2018
Pilot Collaboration for Enhanced Pre-School Services in Punggol
4 new mega childcare centres to open by mid-2018, including first pre-school in a park
By Sandra Davie, Senior Education Correspondent, The Straits Times, 16 Jan 2017
It is heartening that Ministry of Education (MOE) kindergartens, set up to develop fresh approaches and best practices in early education, are now seeing higher demand and enrolments.
Last year, there were 1,300 applications for places in the 15 kindergartens, also aimed at providing high-quality pre-school education at affordable prices, at $150 a month. At four of the kindergartens, parents even had to ballot for places.
Currently, 2,300 children are enrolled in the kindergartens. This is a big change from the muted response in the first year, when only about half of the 560 places offered were taken up.
Some parents had then cited the lack of childcare as one of the reasons for the lukewarm response.
But the ministry was responsive in fixing the problem. It now provides before- and after-school care, up to 7pm at a dozen of the centres.
The 15 centres are located all over the island and figures show that four in five children enrolled live within 1km of their kindergarten, which indicates that proximity to home is also important to parents.
But another often-quoted reason by parents interviewed by The Straits Times is the education provided at these centres.
Several parents said they have come to see the benefits of the play-based curriculum at the MOE kindergartens. A classroom, for instance, might be turned into a restaurant, so pupils can practise language and mathematics skills through designing the menu and role-playing.
The MOE had said it was open to expanding the number of kindergartens beyond the 15 now.
It should, as there is mounting research evidence of the benefits of pre-school education, especially for children from disadvantaged homes.
But the caveat is that the early education and care provided must be of high quality.
The MOE has the resources and expertise to ensure that such education is not only of high quality but also affordable.
* 3 more MOE pre-schools to meet demand in Punggol
Kids from nearby childcare centres will be guaranteed places there under new model
By Priscilla Goy, The Straits Times, 9 Feb 2017
Young families in Punggol will soon have more pre-school options, with three more Ministry of Education (MOE) kindergartens to be set up there next year.
These pre-schools will be part of a new model in which children from nearby childcare centres are guaranteed places there.
The ministry said these moves are to cater to the high demand for pre-school services in Punggol. At 11 per cent, Punggol has the highest proportion of residents aged below five among all the towns.
The announcement yesterday comes three weeks after the Government said the town will have two more mega childcare centres by the middle of next year, with each offering 1,000 places, believed to be the largest for a childcare centre here.
The three new MOE kindergartens will be co-located with schools - Oasis Primary, Punggol Cove Primary and Waterway Primary.
They will each have about 240 places, a four-hour kindergarten programme and before- and after-school care, up to 7pm.
From 2019, all eligible Singaporean Nursery 2 (N2) children at four upcoming "early years centres" in Punggol will be guaranteed a Kindergarten 1 (K1) place in one of the three new MOE kindergartens or an existing one co-located with Punggol View Primary.
There are one to two MOE kindergartens designated for each of the four early years centres.
These centres - run by NTUC First Campus' My First Skool and PAP Community Foundation (PCF) Sparkletots - will admit children of up to four years of age, unlike most childcare centres that admit children aged up to seven.
Parents of N2 children in these centres can choose whether to accept the K1 place offered. Each MOE kindergarten will also have at least 20 per cent of its K1 places set aside for children who are not from these centres.
When asked if this partnership model will be implemented in other areas, Education Minister (Schools) Ng Chee Meng said: "We will wait and see the results of this new pilot, let it evolve and see what we can do even better for young children."
Mrs Loke-Yeo Teck Yong, divisional director for education services at MOE, said this model will enable the early years centres to take in more children aged two months to four years, as programmes for older children are offered elsewhere.
The operators of these centres said this model allows them to focus on serving younger children.
PCF chief executive Victor Bay said: "With this collaboration, PCF Sparkletots can focus all its resources on providing affordable, quality and accessible pre-school education for children till they complete N2."
Parents said they welcomed the initiative.
Ms Cleo Zhuo, 33, who runs a wedding card business and has a 13-month-old son, said she may consider enrolling him in one of the early years centres when it opens next year.
"It would be convenient since we won't need to look for a kindergarten," she said.
When asked whether she was concerned that her child might have to adjust to a new pre-school environment when he is five, she said: "I think it will be okay. Kids should learn to adapt anyway."
Registration for K1 admission next year to the new MOE kindergartens and the 15 existing ones will take place in April.
For more information, go to moe.gov.sg/moekindergarten
Related
Three New MOE Kindergartens in 2018
Pilot Collaboration for Enhanced Pre-School Services in Punggol
4 new mega childcare centres to open by mid-2018, including first pre-school in a park
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