Student care centres in Singapore offer a range of services. At a glance, it is a facility where children spend the rest of the day after their classes waiting for their parents to pick them up. However, these centres are structured like schools and are critical for a child’s development.
Student care centres have become popular across the globe as career demands and the rising cost of living force more parents to spend long hours at work. Singapore acknowledges the need for student care centres.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) regulate and ensure the centres meet minimum standards for children aged 7 – 14.
Singapore has two main types of after school care.
- School-based student care centres
- Community-based student care centres
School-Based Student Care Centres
As the name suggests, school-based student care centres are within the school compound. These student care centres mimic the school’s curriculum because, besides play, students also have tuition and academic support.
A school-based student care centre is usually open to students from other schools, especially those with the same curriculum.
Community-Based Student Care Centre
Community-based student care centres serve the greater community. They are usually in community centres or the Housing and Development Board (HDB) decks. Depending on the parent’s preference, these are strategically located, close to schools or homes.
Differences Between School-Based And Community-Based Student Care centres
School-based and community-based student care centres are popular for different reasons. Many parents consider school-based student care first because it is within the school’s premises. Even parents with children in the surrounding schools often consider school-based student care centres first. This is why these centres fill up quickly.
Here are some notable differences between the two main types of student care centres in Singapore:
- Location School-based student care centres are within schools, while community-based centres are in community centres.
- Curriculum Community-based after school care centres do not have a specific curriculum. Flexibility is sometimes a plus for these centres. School-based student care centres follow the school’s curriculum, which is sometimes a disadvantage for children from schools with a different curriculum.
- Supervision School-based student care centres are monitored by the Ministry of Education. There are restrictions over the structures and the setup. However, some centres go above and beyond to encourage enrollment. Community-based centres have more flexibility in how to organize and run the centre.
- Costs School-based centres tend to be cheaper than community-based student care centres. Families that need financial assistance also get student care fee assistance (SCFA) for their children in school-based centres. Parents who enrol their children in community-based centres do not enjoy the same benefits.
Besides the two main types of afterschool care centres, parents can also choose religious-groups-based centres and charity-based student care centres. There are also some aftercare centres for children with special needs.
These centres are rarer than the first two. However, they offer similar services as school-based and community-based student care centres. All these facilities indicate the growing need for after school care for children. Fortunately, these centres provide a safe haven for children to learn and play until their parents come for them.
