- Joined
- Jan 23, 2010
- Messages
- 1,746
- Points
- 0
PM pledges that PCF kindergartens will keep quality high and fees low
By Cai Haoxiang
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long (extreme right) waving to a child who is trying out a water ball at the carnival in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 yesterday. The carnival was marking the 25th anniversary of the People's Action Party Community Foundation, which runs kindergartens and childcare centres islandwide. -- PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
OVER the decades, People's Action Party Community Foundation (PCF) kindergartens have evolved from ad hoc locations in shophouses and wayang theatre stages into an established islandwide network of preschools that has educated more than a million children.
Speaking at celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of the PCF yesterday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong pledged that preschool education remains a priority of the People's Action Party and that the poor will not be left behind in terms of its affordability and quality.
'The PCF is a key priority for the PAP still and will be for many years to come. We go out of our way to make sure that nobody is missed, that we cover all the kids in our constituencies,' he said.
'We work with grassroots leaders to encourage poorer families to send their children to school and we do our best to keep their fees affordable.'
Addressing some 5,000 parents and their children at the event in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, Mr Lee said the Government's Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme and the PCF's Headstart fund reduces the burden for needy pupils and their families, such that low-income families pay less than $10 a month for their children to attend kindergarten.
In the meantime, he said the PAP will continue to provide good-quality and affordable preschool education to prepare children for primary school as it believes 'this is the best way to uplift the lives of our people'.
Mr Lee added that apart from better-qualified teachers and principals, PCF kindergartens are improving their curriculum and introducing more niche programmes such as dancing, acting, computer classes, art, music and science - all while keeping fees affordable.
PCF kindergartens date back to the 1960s, when the PAP and its archrival Barisan Sosialis set up kindergartens as part of their political outreach to residents.
As enrolment at the PAP kindergartens increased, the party expanded the network. In 1986, the kindergartens came under the control of the PAP's non-political welfare arm, the PCF.
Today, the PCF has 239 kindergartens and 63 childcare centres across Singapore, enrolling about six in 10 preschool children.
They are run by PAP branches in all 84 wards, with day-to-day operations run by paid teaching and administrative staff.
PCF kindergartens are popular with parents interviewed.
Ang Mo Kio resident Fadlie Sernan, 34, earns $1,200 a month as a waiter. He and his wife have three children aged five, four and one.
His two older children get a preschool education practically for free: 'We get a lot of subsidies and benefits with school fees, textbooks, uniforms and food.'
IT specialist Vincent Kin, 42, and his wife, primary school English teacher Sheryl Lim, 38, have two sons aged five and three. They send their elder son to a PCF kindergarten in Sengkang West.
Said Ms Lim: 'The children are exposed to many activities. My son was taken to Chinatown for a heritage tour, visited the Botanic Gardens, and even made pineapple tarts during Chinese New Year.'
By Cai Haoxiang
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long (extreme right) waving to a child who is trying out a water ball at the carnival in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 yesterday. The carnival was marking the 25th anniversary of the People's Action Party Community Foundation, which runs kindergartens and childcare centres islandwide. -- PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
OVER the decades, People's Action Party Community Foundation (PCF) kindergartens have evolved from ad hoc locations in shophouses and wayang theatre stages into an established islandwide network of preschools that has educated more than a million children.
Speaking at celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of the PCF yesterday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong pledged that preschool education remains a priority of the People's Action Party and that the poor will not be left behind in terms of its affordability and quality.
'The PCF is a key priority for the PAP still and will be for many years to come. We go out of our way to make sure that nobody is missed, that we cover all the kids in our constituencies,' he said.
'We work with grassroots leaders to encourage poorer families to send their children to school and we do our best to keep their fees affordable.'
Addressing some 5,000 parents and their children at the event in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, Mr Lee said the Government's Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme and the PCF's Headstart fund reduces the burden for needy pupils and their families, such that low-income families pay less than $10 a month for their children to attend kindergarten.
In the meantime, he said the PAP will continue to provide good-quality and affordable preschool education to prepare children for primary school as it believes 'this is the best way to uplift the lives of our people'.
Mr Lee added that apart from better-qualified teachers and principals, PCF kindergartens are improving their curriculum and introducing more niche programmes such as dancing, acting, computer classes, art, music and science - all while keeping fees affordable.
PCF kindergartens date back to the 1960s, when the PAP and its archrival Barisan Sosialis set up kindergartens as part of their political outreach to residents.
As enrolment at the PAP kindergartens increased, the party expanded the network. In 1986, the kindergartens came under the control of the PAP's non-political welfare arm, the PCF.
Today, the PCF has 239 kindergartens and 63 childcare centres across Singapore, enrolling about six in 10 preschool children.
They are run by PAP branches in all 84 wards, with day-to-day operations run by paid teaching and administrative staff.
PCF kindergartens are popular with parents interviewed.
Ang Mo Kio resident Fadlie Sernan, 34, earns $1,200 a month as a waiter. He and his wife have three children aged five, four and one.
His two older children get a preschool education practically for free: 'We get a lot of subsidies and benefits with school fees, textbooks, uniforms and food.'
IT specialist Vincent Kin, 42, and his wife, primary school English teacher Sheryl Lim, 38, have two sons aged five and three. They send their elder son to a PCF kindergarten in Sengkang West.
Said Ms Lim: 'The children are exposed to many activities. My son was taken to Chinatown for a heritage tour, visited the Botanic Gardens, and even made pineapple tarts during Chinese New Year.'
