home budget debate

쐽 THE STRAITS TIMES THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12 2009 PAGE B11

MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH AND SPORTS

As part of the Government’s plan to develop the childcare sector, 200 childcare centres will
be opening by 2013, adding to the 749 centres currently available. ST FILE PHOTO

Hold off childcare fee hike: Vivian

Given Jobs Credit grant
and downturn, childcare
centres should not raise
prices this year, he says
BY SUE-ANN CHIA
DR VIVIAN Balakrishnan yesterday urged
childcare centres not to raise their fees
this year as families are struggling to
cope with the downturn.
The Minister for Community Develop-
ment, Youth and Sports (MCYS) dis-
closed that 132, or 18 per cent of centres,
have increased their fees or signalled
their intention to do so since last August.
The Government had announced then
a $150 increase in childcare subsidy as
part of its procreation package to boost
Singapore’s fertility rate.
However, the average fee increase was
$78, the minister said.
Still, he feels they ought to hold off
any increase as these centres benefit from
the Government’s Jobs Credit scheme,
which gives them a cash grant to help low-
er the cost of hiring local workers. They
get up to $300 a month for each worker.
“Given this benefit and the economic
downturn, childcare centres should play
their part in ensuring the affordability of
childcare services for our families and
children,” he said during the debate on
his ministry’s budget in Parliament.
Another reason he gave for keeping
their fees affordable is that competition is
set to stiffen, with 200 new childcare cen-
tres opening in the next few years.
Dr Balakrishnan was responding to Mr
Yeo Guat Kwang (Aljunied GRC) who was
worried that rising fees had eroded the
benefits of a higher childcare subsidy.
Mr Yeo had also asked about the quali-
ty of preschool education, prompting the
minister to map out how the Government
is investing in this sector.
Currently, there are 482 kindergartens
and 749 childcare centres. They cater to
97.5 per cent of children aged five and six
years old, as well as 30.6 per cent of chil-
dren aged 18 months to six years.
Another 200 centres will open by
2013, as part of the Government’s plan to
develop the childcare sector.
This means more jobs and to attract
more people to be childcare teachers, the
MCYS will offer scholarships and bursa-
ries to those who take up relevant train-
ing courses, he said.
Noting that the Ministry of Education
(MOE) will be introducing the Accelerat-
ed Diploma for Kindergarten Education,
he added that MCYS is working with
MOE to extend this course to childcare
teachers too.
His ministry is also working with the
Workforce Development Agency to start
a similar accelerated programme to at-
tract mid-career professionals to be child-
care teachers.
The target: Up to 300 training places
over the next three years.
While childcare centres are run by vari-
ous community and private providers, Dr
Balakrishnan pointed out that the Govern-
ment does not adopt a hands-off ap-
proach in regulating the sector.
All centres are licensed by MCYS.
Those that exceed regulation require-
ments receive licences of a longer dura-
tion, he said.
“I would urge parents to look at the li-
cence duration as a means of gauging
quality,” he said.
His ministry is also exploring ways to
put more information on a childcare cen-
tre, such as the teachers’ qualifications
and its health records, on the online Child
Care Link System.
sueann@sph.com.sg

We’ll be Ministries
ready for may join
Youth online
Olympics: feedback
Ser Luck forum
IN LINE with a recent move to engage citi-
BY TERRENCE VOON zens online, government officials could
& LIN XINYI soon be responding directly to comments
on an Internet discussion board.
WITH just 18 months to go before Dr Amy Khor, chairman of Reach, the
the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), the Government’s official feedback arm, said
clock is ticking for organisers of the she was holding talks with ministries to
inaugural event. join the discussion on Reach’s website.
And with Singapore in the grip of “Recognising that the whole process of
a financial downturn, can the coun- engagement and consultation is as impor-
try deliver a top-notch sporting show tant as the outcome itself, Reach will con-
next year? tinue to work with government agencies
The answer, said Senior Parliamen- to act on and respond to feedback in a
tary Secretary (Community Develop- timely manner and keep contributors ap-
ment, Youth and Sports) Teo Ser prised of the status of their feedback,”
Luck, is still a resounding yes. she said in Parliament yesterday.
Addressing queries by MPs yester- “Towards this end, government agen-
day, he acknowledged there had been
cies could, where it is useful, respond to
“a lull” in YOG-related activities
feedback on our discussion forums.”
since the historic bid was won last
year. Minister for Community Develop-
But a slew of initiatives is being ment, Youth and Sports Vivian
lined up this year, as organisers gear A slew of initiatives has already been lined up this year as organisers gear up for the final round of preparations for the Youth Olympics in 2010, Balakrishnan had given Dr Khor the task
up for the final lap of preparations including engagement activities with schools and community events to create more buzz. ST FILE PHOTO of addressing Reach-related questions in
for the Games in 2010. the debate on the ministry’s budget.
“This year, we’re going to roll out Her words were yet another indication
several engagement activities with Formed last September, the SYSD could still be met.
the schools and even at the district committee has been given the task of “I’m also having a bit of a hard
level to actually encourage more and preparing local athletes for the inau- time to meet some of the targets,” he
Public can use 15 of the Government’s changing mindset to-
wards e-engagement.
Last month, it accepted the suggestion
more community events that will cre- gural Games and strengthening the acknowledged.
ate the buzz again,” he said.
This includes partnering voluntary
Singapore sports system. “But you can be assured that the
But even as the preparations go in- interest among the potential spon-
school sports halls from the Advisory Council on the Impact
of New Media on Society to step up on-
line engagement.
welfare organisations such as the Har- to high gear, several MPs wondered if sors is still there, though maybe the
the Games would be scuppered by quantum is a bit smaller.” BY THE end of next month, 15 school indoor sports Yesterday’s discussion of the topic
vest Care Centre for a cul-
tural and heritage event in But it is not just big compa- halls located islandwide will be open for public use. was prompted by Mr Baey Yam Keng
April, and the Institute of 쏆 nies that can help boost the This is the first time that government efforts to (Tanjong Pagar GRC). He had said that
Technical Education, sponsorship kitty. He urged lo- make sports facilities more accessible have been ex- some Singaporeans have the notion that
which is organising a basic WE CAN STILL MEET TARGET cal small- and medium-sized tended to include the use of school indoor sports halls. their feedback to the Government goes in-
service excellence training enterprises to come forward Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Community Devel- to a black hole.
programme for 20,000 vol- “You can be assured that the interest among the and support the cause. opment, Youth and Sports) Teo Ser Luck announced Dr Khor, who is also the South West
unteers. potential sponsors is still there, though maybe the “We will exercise flexibili- in Parliament yesterday that the move is part of an on- District Mayor, assured Singaporeans
Another key initiative an- quantum is a bit smaller.” ty to tailor the sponsorship going drive to raise sports participation. that every view was heard.
nounced yesterday: satel- Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Community Development, packages to suit companies. Since 2003, school fields have been made available She outlined two measures Reach had
lite training centres for se- Youth and Sports) Teo Ser Luck, on concerns that sponsorship SMEs can also consider form- to the public. As of last year, 120 school fields have put in place to “close the loop”.
lected Olympic sports in for the YOG may shrink ing a consortium with their been open to the public during weekends.
There is a monthly newsletter, both in
each of the four school counterparts to support the The latest announcement follows the positive re-
YOG.” print and online, that highlights various
zones. sponse to a pilot programme at four schools – Ander-
The other piece of good son Secondary, Bedok View Secondary, Pasir Ris Sec- policy changes due to feedback.
In the coming months, the weak economy.
promising secondary school students news is that the current shortage of ondary and Yishun Town Secondary. Summaries of the feedback and govern-
Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Holland-Bukit ment responses to the feedback were also
will be groomed at these centres for Timah GRC), Mr Baey Yam Keng construction materials, as noted by Rates for using the halls will be no different from
the Youth Olympics. The long-term (Tanjong Pagar GRC) and Mr Sin Mr Sin, has not significantly affected what the Singapore Sports Council charges for use of posted on a new section on the website
goal is to provide additional avenues Boon Ann (Tampines GRC) all ex- preparations for the YOG. its sports facilities. called Talk Abuzz.
According to Mr Teo, this is be- Talk Abuzz was launched last Septem-
for youth participation and excel- pressed concerns that corporate spon- cause Singapore will not be building For badminton enthusiast Melody Tan, 24, the
lence in sports. sorship for the YOG may shrink. change is welcome: “Whenever I try to book a court ber and, to date, has 18 government re-
major infrastructure for the Games. plies on matters such as the Budget and
This is part of the Singapore Mr Teo noted that companies are Of the 26 sports featured, 22 will online, it’s always fully booked. By opening up school
Youth Sports Development (SYSD) more cautious now when it comes to be held in existing venues that re- halls, there will be more courts available and more op- the controversy over housing foreign
committee’s plans to increase partici- sponsorship, but gave the assurance quire either temporary overlays or up- portunities to play.” workers in Serangoon Gardens.
pation in sports. that the YOG’s target of $50 million grading works. LIN XINYI JEREMY AU YONG