Childcare centres in Singapore are set to undergo a significant change from January 1, 2025, as they will no longer be required to operate on Saturdays. This move comes as part of the Early Childhood Development Agency’s (ECDA) ongoing efforts to enhance the working conditions of early childhood educators and improve their overall well-being. The decision follows careful consideration and feedback from families and childcare operators, with the ultimate goal of creating a better work-life balance for educators while ensuring the sector’s growth and sustainability.
Low Demand on Saturdays
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Currently, demand for childcare services on Saturdays remains low. To address this, the ECDA has devised a phased implementation plan. Starting from January 1, 2024, childcare centres can opt to close on Saturdays if there is no significant demand for their services. Additionally, operators with multiple centres will have the flexibility to consolidate demand and operate from designated centres on Saturdays when necessary.
Empowering Childcare Centres and Parents
The ECDA also allows childcare centres to state in their service agreements with parents that there will be no Saturday services for newly enrolled children from January 1, 2024. This proactive step empowers parents to plan their childcare arrangements accordingly. Furthermore, new childcare centres commencing operations in 2024 will be exempt from providing Saturday services, giving them the opportunity to focus on building their operations without this additional burden.
Supporting Educators and Attracting Talent
The move to end Saturday services is driven by a genuine concern for the well-being of educators. Working on Saturdays can be taxing, leaving educators with limited time for themselves and their families. By granting a two-day weekend, childcare professionals will have the chance to recharge, pursue personal interests, and spend quality time with their loved ones. Minister for Social and Family Development, Masagos Zulkifli, highlighted that this change is expected to retain experienced educators in the sector and encourage more Singaporeans to join as they witness an improvement in working conditions.
Data-Driven Decision
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The decision to end Saturday services is supported by extensive research conducted by ECDA. Over the past 10 months, they surveyed more than 8,000 families and about 800 childcare centres. The results revealed that 98% of families do not require Saturday services, as they either care for their children themselves or have alternative arrangements. Simultaneously, educators expressed challenges in balancing work and personal time due to overtime or Saturday shifts.
Positive Impact on Childcare Services
Early childhood educators, like Ms Poh Kai Lin, a lead English teacher at NTUC First Campus’ My First Skool, enthusiastically welcomed the decision. She praised the move, stating that it would enable teachers to recharge and parents to spend more quality time with their children on weekends. Existing arrangements for low attendance on Saturdays, where two teachers rotate their duties while others focus on lesson planning and preparation, often prove inefficient for childcare centres.
Industry Transformation Map 2025
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In conjunction with this reform, the ECDA launched the Early Childhood Industry Transformation Map 2025 during a recent event. This roadmap aims to enhance jobs and skills in the sector while developing innovative and high-quality pre-school services. Measures include building larger childcare centres for more efficient operations, exploring flexible service models, and embracing digital transformation to improve productivity and service delivery. The ECDA also plans to boost the workforce by at least 2,500 by 2025 by making early childhood education a more attractive career choice with market-competitive salaries.
A Brighter Future for Childcare Centres
With the impending change to a five-day work week, childcare centres in Singapore look forward to a brighter future. Educators will have more time for their families and personal pursuits, while parents can have greater flexibility in managing their children’s care. This transformation, coupled with the ECDA’s ambitious roadmap, signals an exciting era for the early childhood education sector, poised to meet the evolving needs of families and society as a whole.
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