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SINGAPORE: All Ministry of Education (MOE) kindergartens will progressively move to a new full-day programme from 2028 to 2030, bringing learning, play and care together in a more seamless experience for the children.<\/span><\/p>\n Under the new full-day model, kindergarten lessons and after-school care will be combined into a single programme run by MOE. Parents who do not need full-day services can still opt for a half-day programme, the ministry said on Wednesday (Oct 28).<\/span><\/p>\n Currently, the 56 MOE kindergartens offer four-hour K1 and K2 programmes for children aged five and six. Parents who need childcare beyond these hours can enrol their children in Kindergarten Care (KCare), which is <\/span>provided by an external MOE-appointed service provider.<\/p>\n About 65 per cent of the roughly 8,000 children enrolled in MOE kindergartens also attend KCare.<\/span><\/p>\n MOE said that while the current arrangements have served families well, a more integrated full-day preschool service would better support children’s overall development and meet the changing needs of families.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “This will provide the children with greater continuity in learning, more sustained interactions with <\/strong>MOE Kindergarten staff to foster stronger relationships, and increased opportunities to further enrich children’s learning experiences,” it added.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “Children from disadvantaged backgrounds will also benefit from a more seamless and supportive learning environment.”<\/span><\/p>\n Before the wider rollout, MOE will pilot the new model at two kindergartens<\/span>, MK@Rivervale and MK@West View, next year. Lessons learnt from the pilot will help guide the implementation and gradual rollout of the new model across all MOE kindergartens.<\/span><\/p>\n MOE will share which kindergartens will implement the new model the following year during its annual kindergarten registration exercise in March.<\/p>\n “We recognise that in the preschool sector there is an evolving need,” said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education Syed Harun Alhabsyi.<\/p>\n “This is why we’re taking the step to further integrate the learning, the play, as well as the care of our children with a full-day programme.”<\/p>\n With the new model, the children will have access to a wider range of learning and play experiences, such as child-directed play in their mother tongue language where they can learn while exploring their interests.<\/p>\n The kindergarten will also introduce open-ended outdoor play, where children can engage in self-directed exploration and experiment with \u201copen-ended play materials\u201d such as hoola hoops, planks and tires. This, MOE said, can help them build physical confidence and resilience as they learn to navigate and assess risks within a safe environment.\u00a0<\/p>\n During school holidays, children can take part in hands-on activities involving science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), drama and visual arts.<\/p>\n \u201cThe MOE Kindergarten curriculum, designed by MOE curriculum specialists, will continue to build confidence and social skills, lay strong foundations in their literacy and numeracy, and prepare them well for Primary 1,\u201d said the ministry.\u00a0<\/p>\n MOE kindergartens will operate from 7am to 7pm on weekdays, including during school holidays. Parents who opt for the half-day programme can send their children from 7am to 12.30pm.<\/p>\n The kindergartens will be closed on public holidays, designated MOE school holidays such as teachers’ day and children’s day, and centre closure days. \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\nWHAT WILL THE FULL-DAY PROGRAMME LOOK LIKE?<\/h2>\n
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