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11 February 2009MEDIA RELEASEINVESTING IN OUR CHILDREN:MORE AND BETTER CHILDCARE SERVICES,HELP FOR CHILDREN FROM VULNERABLE FAMILIES
The Government is committed to investing in our children. Enhancing the quality,accessibility and affordability of early childhood education is therefore a priority for theMinistry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS). This is to ensure thatall our children receive a good head start in life.2 For vulnerable families, there is greater imperative that their children haveaccess to early childhood education. Education and skills upgrading are keys toensuring that the next generation breaks out of poverty.
(A) ENHANCING QUALITY OF CHILDCARE SERVICES
3 There are currently 749 child care centres in Singapore which serve theeducation and care needs of about 31 percent of children aged between 18 months andsix years. Childcare centres play an increasingly important role in providing quality pre-school education, not only for those aged five to six, but also for younger children.Given this important role, MCYS will be facilitating the development of 200 newchildcare centres over the next five years. The majority will be conveniently located inHDB estates and near transport nodes.4 The childcare subsidy has been increased with effect from 17 August 2008, fromup to $150 per month to up to $300 per month. The infant care subsidy has gone upfrom up to $400 per month to up to $600 per month.5 To ensure quality, MOE and MCYS have raised the minimum requirements of pre-school teachers. From 1 January 2009, new pre-school teachers and supervisorsare required to have at least five GCE ‘O’ level credits including English Language anda Diploma in Pre-School Teaching. Incumbent teachers teaching K1 and K2 mustobtain a Diploma in Pre-School Teaching, and an ‘O’ level pass in English Language or pass an English Language proficiency test by January 2013. In addition, each pre-school centre must have at least 75 percent of all its pre-school teachers holding aDiploma in Pre-School Teaching by January 2013.
MCYS MEDIA RELEASE NO: 08/2009DATE OF ISSUE: 11/02/2009
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