PCF pre-schools to drive passion for arts, sports

SINGAPORE — The PAP Community Foundation (PCF), the largest pre-school operator here, will be going beyond the curricular norms and providing additional opportunities to develop children in areas like arts and sports through enrichment programmes.

These include speech, drama, aikido, table tennis, gymnastics and painting.

This is how the PCF will play its part in developing children’s interests and passions, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Sunday (Aug 27) at the PCF Family Day.

Some 10,000 staff, pupils and families had a taste of what is to come when they celebrated the annual event, held this year at the National Gallery Singapore, where artworks by PCF Sparkletots children were showcased.

“Today’s event here will give you a taste of the kind of things which we’re encouraging kids to do, which are beyond (their) normal strict curriculum (and) which you’ll find fun and enriching and will expand your minds and your horizons,” said Mr Lee.

“So parents can be assured that, at PCF, their kids well be well looked after and can learn from a wide variety of programmes.”

In his speech, Mr Lee emphasised that the Government was making big investments in the pre-school sector, as announced at the National Day Rally, to ensure that there are good, affordable pre-schools for all Singaporean children.

“(This is) so that everybody has a chance to ... get the stimulation, enrichment, education (and) socialisation to make friends, to learn things to explore the world and to start well in life,” he said Sunday.

“So that whether you’re going on to Primary 1 or, whether later on, going on beyond school to work or when you bring up your own family, you have a good foundation, and you have a full chance to participate in Singapore, to contribute to Singapore and to enjoy what there is in Singapore.”

Mr Lee highlighted that, besides the initiatives to raise standards, the number of pre-school places will be increased by 40,000 in the next five years. This will bring the total number of places to 200,000, almost double the number five years ago.

As part of this expansion, the PCF will be building and operating centres for children, ranging from newborns to four years old, where there is a shortage of places, he added.

It was also announced yesterday that PAP Members of Parliament had raised more than S$500,000, which will benefit eight charities.

PCF chief executive officer Victor Bay said it was committed to “making a difference in the lives of those around us, whether through welfare programmes or financial support”.

He added: “Through this, we hope to build a strong community spirit which can encourage our children to grow into compassionate and responsible adults.”

Parent Rosman Abdul Rahim, 40, who has five children aged between five and 14, said at yesterday’s event that the Government’s push to invest in the pre-school sector was a good initiative.

“Education is the important thing ... especially early education like our kindergartens, (so that’s why) it’s very important to start (investing in children’s education) early,” said the pest control technician, whose youngest child is in a PCF Sparkletots school.