More vaccination, preschool subsidies among measures to help parents with childcare costs

SINGAPORE — More support will be given to parents to help with the cost of raising their children, including higher subsidies for vaccinations and preschool education, and a fee waiver for children’s first passports. 

Here is a look at the announcements made on Wednesday (Aug 28):

MORE SUBSIDIES FOR VACCINES, DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS 

By the end of next year, subsidies for all vaccinations will be extended to general practitioner (GP) clinics that are under the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS).

These include: 

• vaccinations under the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS), which include those against tuberculosis and hepatitis B,

• vaccinations for diseases with high outbreak potential such as measles, and

• vaccinations recommended for personal protection, such as those against pneumococcal disease.

Currently subsidies are only available at polyclinics, and only for the first two categories.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) noted that currently, take-up rates for vaccines in the third category are much lower than those for the other two, although they offer significant protection against diseases.

Similarly, subsidies for childhood developmental screenings will be extended to GP clinics under the CHAS scheme.

These screenings help with early detection and timely intervention for developmental delays in children, the MOH said.

MORE PRESCHOOL SUBSIDIES

The Government will increase preschool subsidies across all income tiers that qualify for the Additional Subsidy and the Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme (KiFAS). 

From January 2020, a dual-income family earning S$8,000 per month will pay S$280 monthly for full-day childcare services at an anchor operator, compared with up to S$470 today. A dual-income family earning S$5,000 per month will pay S$130 monthly, compared with up to S$370 today. 

Lower-income families will pay even less. Families earning S$3,000 or less per month will pay S$3 monthly for full-day childcare services at an anchor operator preschool.

The release of the subsidy details follows Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's announcement at the National Day Rally earlier this month that from January 2020, the Government will raise the gross monthly household income ceiling for additional subsidy and KiFAS to S$12,000.

With the additional subsidy, families earning up to S$12,000 per month will pay S$390 monthly for full-day childcare services at an anchor operator, compared with up to S$470 today.

Currently, all families with Singaporean children attending childcare and infant care programmes receive a basic subsidy. 

Families also receive a means-tested additional subsidy if the mother is working and the gross monthly household income is S$7,500 and below. 

Families with Singaporean children attending kindergarten programmes by anchor operators and the Ministry of Education (MOE) receive a means-tested subsidy under the KiFAS if their gross monthly household income is S$6,000 and below.

MORE CHILDCARE SPOTS

The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) will expand the partner operator scheme with a new call for applications from childcare operators, for a five-year term starting from January 2021.

ECDA will also develop a scheme for a small number of quality kindergartens to join as partner operators within 2021. 

KiFAS will be extended to children enrolled in kindergartens appointed as partner operators. Kindergartens that join as partner operators will have to meet conditions to ensure affordability, quality and full accessibility for all segments of the public. 

ECDA will be engaging operators over the next few months and will provide more details in due course.

As part of the expansion of government-supported places, MOE will also set up a few more MOE kindergartens. It aims to operate about 60 by 2025.

At the National Day Rally, Mr Lee had also announced that 80 per cent of preschoolers can have a place in a government-supported preschool by around 2025, up from just over 50 per cent today.

CAP ON PRESCHOOL FEES

ECDA will maintain the fee caps for anchor and partner operators in the near term. Under the new five-year term for the partner operator scheme starting January 2021, ECDA will also lower the fee caps for partner operators. 

Preschools which are not subject to fee caps are encouraged to ensure that fee increases, if any, should not be excessive.

FEE WAIVER FOR CHILDREN'S FIRST PASSPORTS 

Application fees will be waived for parents who are applying for the first passport for their Singaporean children born on or after Jan 1, 2020.

To enjoy the waiver, the parents must submit the application for the passport before the child’s first birthday.

More details will be announced later this year.