New MOE kindergartens in Punggol to set aside spots for partner pre-schools

SINGAPORE — Families with young children in Punggol will have more pre-school options from next year with three new Ministry of Education (MOE) kindergartens and a pilot programme where children enrolled in two pre-school anchor operators are guaranteed spots in the MOE kindergartens.

This boost to pre-school facilities to Punggol comes on the heels of last month’s announcement that the town will be getting two new mega childcare centres offering 1,000 places, the largest yet for any childcare centre in Singapore. 

The three new MOE kindergartens, to be co-located in primary schools, will open next year, the Education Ministry announced on Wednesday (Feb 8).

They will be part of the joint pilot programme between MOE and pre-school anchor operators — the PAP Community Foundation Sparkletots Preschool and National Trades Union Congress’ My First Skool, where Singaporean children in Nursery 2 enrolled in centres run by these two operators are offered a guaranteed place in a nearby partner MOE kindergarten at Kindergarten 1 level.

The pilot will take in its first batch in 2019, after the three new MOE kindergartens become operational.

Four early-years centres will be part of this pilot: Three are operated by My First Skool, and one by PCF Sparkletots. Of these, two are mega childcare centres, announced in January.

More details will be provided to parents who register at the early-years centres.

Asked why Punggol was chosen for the collaboration, Education Minister Ng Chee Meng, speaking during a visit to an MOE kindergarten at Punggol View on Wednesday, said the growing population in Punggol with many young families meant an increasing need for pre-school services, and the new collaboration would increase capacity.

Ms Panmeline Wong, centre head of MOE Kindergarten @ Punggol View, said the pilot would bring reassurance to parents, noting that places at her centre were oversubscribed by 20 to 30 per cent for the 2017 intake. The centre is also part of the pilot.

For children who are not from partner early-years centres, the MOE said enrolment of the early-years centres and MOE kindergartens in Punggol will be sized to ensure an appropriate proportion of places continues to be available for other children.

At least 20 per cent of each kindergarten’s planned K1 intake will be set aside for children who are not from the pilot’s partner centres. The three new MOE kindergartens to open in Punggol will be located in Oasis Primary School, Punggol Cove Primary School and Waterway Primary School. Each kindergarten will take around 120 students each. They will offer four-hour kindergarten programmes as well as full-day kindergarten care services.

Mr Jacob Chee, 32, father of a one-year-old, said introducing the pilot was a good move. 

“I have heard from friends about the waiting list at some kindergartens, so it is great that this collaboration gives my child a guaranteed place,” said Mr Chee, who is self-employed. 

Ms Edna Pang, 28, a housewife and mother of a two-year-old, said one of her neighbours sent her child to a kindergarten in Sengkang as schools in Punggol were full.

“It’s good to have more kindergartens here, so we don’t have to travel so far for our daughter in the future,” she added.