Admission exercise for MOE kindergartens draws keen interest

SINGAPORE — Previously cited as a turn-off, the curriculum at the Ministry of Education (MOE)-run kindergartens, which features more play and outdoor activities, has become a draw for some parents.

The second admission exercise for the kindergartens began yesterday and parents have shown keen interest, after a lukewarm first year. Less than half the 560 places available (250) were taken up at the first five that opened this year and only the Punggol View centre was oversubscribed. Next year, five more will start operations — offering another 540 places — as part of the 15 the MOE has committed to run by 2016.

While the ministry will only disclose registration numbers after the admission exercise ends at 5pm today, TODAY saw a steady stream of parents at three of these kindergartens. The centre in Yishun, for instance, already had 31 applications for the 60 spots by 2pm.

Mr John Yap, who was at the kindergarten within Punggol Green Primary to enrol his daughter, is one of those who has been taken by the “learning through purposeful play” approach.

“At her age, I feel there should be more play-time instead of desk-bound activities,” said the 41-year-old. “We don’t want her to be too stressed out and be afraid of going to school when the time comes for her to enter Primary One.”

Previously, some parents had expressed concerns that the play-heavy curriculum at the MOE-run kindergartens would hinder their children in getting ahead in their preparations for primary school.

For parents such as Ms Yani, her decision to enrol her son in the centre within Sengkang Green Primary is purely out of convenience — her daughter is a Primary One pupil at the school. “I can send both my children together to school without making separate trips,” she said.

The five new MOE-run kindergartens will be located within Frontier Primary School (Jurong West Street 61), Punggol Green Primary School (Punggol Walk), Sengkang Green Primary School (Fernvale Road), West Spring Primary School (Bukit Panjang Road) and one that is yet to be completed at Block 318A, Yishun Avenue 9.

Members of Parliament who have these kindergartens in their wards are hopeful of positive response — the locations of the five starting next year were decided based on demand — but some suggested ways to increase their appeal.

Mr Cedric Foo, for example, said the younger demographic in his Pioneer constituency, some of whom are dual-income parents, would appreciate full-day care services at these centres.

“My feedback to MOE was that if they can increase the capacity of after-school care so parents can pick up their kids at 6pm, it will be very attractive,” he said.