Photo: The Straits TimesPhoto: The Straits TimesSingapore
Singapore relaxes grant criteria so smaller preschools can join POP network
Easier access to a grant could widen the pool of lower-fee preschools, a step government links to lowering childcare costs and boosting fertility.
- Head TopicsSingapore Relaxes Preschool Grant Rules to Lower Fees by 2030 (opens in a new tab)
- The Straits TimesEasing pre-school worries, giving parents assurance: Goh Pei Ming on supporting families (opens in a new tab)
- Yahoo NewsEasing pre-school worries, giving parents assurance: Goh Pei Ming on supporting families (opens in a new tab)
What happened
Senior Minister of State for Social and Family Development and Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming announced that smaller preschool operators may find it easier to tap a new grant to join the Partner Operator network. Head Topics+2 The criteria for the grant will be relaxed from the thresholds required for the government-supported partner operator scheme, potentially including more smaller operators. Yahoo News Currently, preschools must belong to an operator of a certain size to qualify for the scheme, which requires operators to adhere to fee caps and meet quality standards. Yahoo News Goh said the size of the preschool operator is one criterion that will be relaxed. Yahoo News
Around it
Goh said Singapore must make preschools near homes, affordable and of good quality, and build a family-friendly culture, as the low 0.87 fertility rate raises long-term economic concerns. The Straits Times The target is for full-day childcare fees to drop to $150 a month and infant care fees to $300 a month by 2030. Head Topics Goh acknowledged that smaller, individual centres are popular with their immediate communities. Yahoo News
What comes next
More details on the grant will be announced by the end of 2026. Yahoo News
Sources
- Head TopicsSingapore Relaxes Preschool Grant Rules to Lower Fees by 2030 (opens in a new tab)
- The Straits TimesEasing pre-school worries, giving parents assurance: Goh Pei Ming on supporting families (opens in a new tab)
- Yahoo NewsEasing pre-school worries, giving parents assurance: Goh Pei Ming on supporting families (opens in a new tab)
More from Singapore
- Photo: The Straits Times
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