Three new preschool anchor operators appointed

SINGAPORE — Three new anchor operators (AOP) were appointed by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) today (Jan 27).

Together with the two existing AOPs, the five operators are expected to collectively provide an additional 16,000 preschool places by 2017.

The three new AOPs are: Metropolitan YMCA’s MY World Preschool, Kinderland Consortium’s Skool4Kidz and EtonHouse International’s E-Bridge Pre-School.

They join existing AOPs PAP Community Foundation and NTUC First Campus’ My First Skool.

The ECDA said it received a total of 16 proposals for new AOPs. The proposals were evaluated on a range of criteria, such as financial stability, governance processes, programme quality and affordability. The new operators were evaluated and considered for their track record for providing quality early childhood care and education services and a track record for financial stability, amongst others.

Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing said: “With more Anchor Operators on board, we can better serve the needs of our children and families. The fees will be affordable to parents as the anchor operators must keep to programme fee caps.

“The operators have also committed to help children from lower income or disadvantaged backgrounds through corporate social responsibility programmes.”

The AOP scheme was first introduced in 2009. It provides funding to selected operators to increase access to good quality and affordable early childhood care.

AOPs have to cap their monthly fees at limits which are reviewed regularly by the authorities.

Correction: The original article named one of the new AOPs as Metropolitan YMCA My World Preschool. This is incorrect. The new AOP is called Metropolitan YMCA MY World Preschool. We are sorry for the error. This article was edited at 9:30am on Jan 28, 2014.