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SINGAPORE: The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has designated a total of 324 child care centers for the next period of the Associated Operator (POP) program, a 30 percent increase compared to the current period, said the agency on Wednesday (November 25).
Under the new five-year POP period, ECDA will provide financial support to designated centers to “improve the accessibility, affordability and quality of child care and child care services,” the agency said in a press release.
The current POP period started in January 2016 and will end in December this year. The new term will begin in January next year and end in December 2025.
READ: Lower Rate Limits for Partner Operator Preschools from 2021, Calling for More Applicants
LOWER CARGO CAPS
The financial support will allow designated centers to lower rate caps for Singapore’s children and ensure that any rate increases are “affordable” for parents, ECDA said.
The fee limits for POP centers will be lowered in the new period: from SG $ 800 per month to SG $ 760 per month for full-day childcare, and from SG $ 1,400 per month to SG $ 1,330 per month for child care services.
For example, a center currently in the POP scheme charges the maximum of S $ 856 (S $ 800 limit, plus GST) for full-day child care. Under the new POP term, the center will have to reduce its fees to a maximum of S $ 813 per month (S $ 760 limit, plus GST).
Example of rate savings for families under the term of the new partner operator, from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2025 (Table: Early Childhood Development Agency)
If a center that is not currently in the POP scheme charges S $ 1,070 per month for full-day child care, it will be asked to reduce its rates to a maximum of S $ 813 per month if designated for the next period .
Example of rate savings for families under the term of the new partner operator, from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2025 (Table: Early Childhood Development Agency)
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ECDA said the financial support will help designated centers to invest in improving center quality through efforts such as obtaining certification under the Singapore Preschool Accreditation Framework and strengthening organizational capacities.
The funding will also support initiatives to attract and retain talent in the industry, by investing in ongoing professional development for center leaders and preschool educators, the agency added.
7,000 MORE CHILDREN ARE EXPECTED TO BENEFIT
The 324 centers are managed by 29 operators or consortia, seven of which are new to the program.
“They generally comprise a diversity of commercial and non-profit operators, with hubs in locations throughout Singapore, and therefore provide options for parents,” said ECDA.
More than 27,000 Singaporean children are expected to benefit from the expanded plan, the agency said, adding that this is 7,000 (35%) more than the current term of the POP plan.
ECDA launched in November 2019 a call for applications from child care operators for the next POP program period.
READ: Additional Preschool Grants Will Increase Beginning January 2020
The agency said it received 52 applications from operators or consortia to join the next period of the scheme.
“Applications were received from a variety of commercial and non-profit operators, including operators in the current term of the POP scheme,” ECDA said.
