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SINGAPORE \u2013 Smaller pre-school operators may find it easier to tap a new grant that will be rolled out to help them join a network of centres offering lower fees to families.<\/p>\n
The criteria for the grant will be relaxed from the thresholds required for the government-supported partner operator (POP) scheme, potentially including more smaller operators, said Senior Minister of State for Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming.<\/p>\n
More details will be announced by the end of 2026.<\/p>\n
In an interview with The Straits Times, Goh acknowledged that there are smaller, individual centres that are \u201cvery passionate about what they do\u201d and are popular with their immediate communities.<\/p>\n
Currently, pre-schools must belong to an operator of a certain size to qualify for the POP scheme, which requires operators to adhere to fee caps and meet quality standards.<\/p>\n
Goh said the pre-schools\u2019 scale is one criterion that will be relaxed so that smaller operators can be considered for the grant.<\/p>\n
The move comes as Singapore prepares to expand its network of government-supported pre-schools so that lower fees can be made more widely available to families<\/span><\/a>. By 2030, full-day childcare fees at these centres are set to fall to $150 a month, and infant care fees to $300 a month.<\/p>\n This is good news for families, but some private pre-schools worry that they will struggle to compete<\/span><\/a> with these lower fees. Following the announcement at the National Day Rally (NDR), Goh engaged pre-school operators, who shared concerns about how the changes may affect them.<\/p>\n Some operators who have been unsuccessful in previous rounds are hoping the transformation grant, first announced by Goh on Aug 28, will offer another way into the POP network.<\/p>\n The network currently comprises 380 pre-school centres run by 33 operators, appointed for a five-year term from Jan 1, 2026, to Dec 31, 2030.<\/p>\n Eligible operators keen to join the network will receive support, Goh said, adding that greater competition in the sector will ultimately benefit children.<\/p>\n Increased competition would encourage pre-schools to \u201cinnovate and create a stronger value proposition\u201d, said Goh, who was speaking to ST at the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) building in Caldecott about his first 1\u00bd years in politics.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe sector will not become more uniform,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen we inject more competition, I expect it to be even more diverse, more colourful and more exciting for our children.\u201d<\/p>\n