Ministry of Social and Family Development: Rental housing estates trial night-time childcare services
Published:
FEB 28 2021
胡洁梅 Hu Jiemei
The Ministry of Social and Family Development assessed the needs of 650 low-income families, and community partners have also reflected that night childcare services may be helpful to these families. The authorities will therefore study the possibility of piloting night-time childcare services at a ComLink site to better understand the demand for the services and whether they are sustainable.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development will study the possibility of piloting night-time childcare services in rental housing estates to assist low-income families.
The Minister of Social and Family Development and the Second Minister of Health, Mr Masagos Zulkifli, pointed this out in a written parliamentary reply to Member of Parliament (MP) Louis Ng (PAP-Nee Soon GRC) a few days ago regarding the need for night-time childcare services.
In the response, he said that, in line with the ComLink project, the Ministry of Social and Family Development engaged 650 low-income families to understand their needs, and community partners have also indicated that night-time childcare may be helpful to these families. The authorities will therefore study the possibility of piloting night-time childcare services at a ComLink site to better assess the demand and sustainability of the services.
The ComLink project has been piloted in rental housing areas since last year, with the aim to provide more comprehensive support for low-income families with children through collaboration across agencies. The four ComLink pilot sites include Boon Lay, Jalan Kukoh, Kembangan-Chai Chee and Marsiling.
Mr Masagos pointed out that all childcare centres are required to operate from 7 am to 7 pm on weekdays and 7 am to 2 pm on Saturdays to meet the needs of working parents. However, childcare centres can also determine whether to extend service hours based on the needs and resources. Currently, more than 40 childcare centres are open beyond 7 pm on weekdays, accounting for about 3 percent of the total number of childcare centres.
He said, “The current arrangement meets the needs of most parents. For those working shifts or on weekends, many of them arrange for other caregivers, such as grandparents and relatives, to help out. Nevertheless, we understand that some families may face difficulties in making such caregiving arrangements.”
Morning Star Community Services, a charity organisation, has provided low-income families with free childcare services for four hours on weekdays since 2016, supporting students between the ages of 6 and14 years with academic and social values education activities. Due to increased demand, in addition to the three existing CareNights centres, the organisation has also launched services in Agape Village since this year, and has helped about 180 people so far.
In an interview, Ms Jagdeep Kaur, head of programmes and volunteer management at Morning Star, said that low-income families face many challenges, especially due to the pandemic. Some parents have had to undertake two jobs for a livelihood, and working hours are irregular.
“Night-time childcare services are believed to help low-income families solve the problem of childcare arrangements. I hope these families can enjoy the services at low prices or even for free. Knowing that their children are in a safe environment, parents can work in peace. Children can also receive guidance in safe environment and develop their social-emotional learning and other skills.”
Parent Yang Xiaoqing (36 years old, manager) believes that night-time childcare can meet the needs of some parents who have to do shift work and do not have relatives or friends to help. “But night-time care services are not common, and the charges are not cheap. If the service aims to support low-income families, the charges must be kept low. I am fortunate to have my mother’s help. Sometimes because of work, I can’t make it to the childcare centre to pick up my child before 7 pm, but I can ask my mother to do it on my behalf.”
Li Chenghui, the Chief Operating Officer of preschool My Little Campus, pointed out that if the service hours are extended, the organisation would have to consider whether the centre has sufficient manpower, as well as work procedures and safety factors. Furthermore, if a child is not exposed to the home environment for a long period, this may not be beneficial to the child’s physical and mental development.
社会及家庭发展部：租赁组屋区或试行夜间托儿服务
社会及家庭发展部向650户低收入家庭了解他们的需要，社区伙伴也反映夜间托儿服务对这些家庭或有帮助。当局因此将探讨在社区联系站的其中一个地点试行夜间托儿服务，以更好地了解对服务的需求，以及是否可持续维持。
社会及家庭发展部将探讨在租赁组屋区试行夜间托儿服务，协助有需要的低收入家庭。
社会及家庭发展部涨长兼卫生部第二部长马善高日前书面答复议员黄国光（义顺集选区）有关夜间托儿服务的需求时指出这点。
他回应时说，配合社区联系站（ComLink）的计划，社会及家庭发展部象650户低收入家庭了解他们的需要，社区伙伴也反映夜间托儿服务对这些家庭或有帮助。当局因此将探讨社区联系站的其中一个地点试行夜间托儿服务，以更好地了解对服务的需求，以及是否持续维持。
社区联系站自前年起在租赁组屋较集中的地区试行，目的是通过跨机构协作，为有孩子的低收入家庭提供更完善的援助。设有社区联系站的地区包括惹兰固哥、景万岸-菜市、马西岭和文礼。
马善高指出，全岛所有托儿所必须在平日上午7时至晚上7时，以及星期六上午7时至下午2时营业，以满足上班族家长的需要。但托儿所也可根据需求与资源，决定是否延长服务时间。目前，超过40家托儿服物所在平日营业至晚上7时以后，占总托儿所数量约3%。
他说：“现有的安排能满足多数家长的需要。轮班工作或周末需要工作的家长中，有许多时安排祖父母或亲戚帮忙照顾孩子。即便如此，我们意识到一些家庭在托儿安排上会遇到困难。”
慈善机构晨星之家（Morning Star Community Services）自2016年起在平日为低收入家庭免费提供四小时的托管服务，为介于6岁至14岁学生安排学习与社交活动。因需求增加，除了现有的三家学生托管中心，机构今年起也在博爱村（Agape Village）提供服务，至今共帮助约180人。
在晨星之家负责项目与义工管理的主任杰蒂柯尔受访时说，低收入家庭面对不少挑战，尤其面对疫情冲击，一些家长为了生计得从事两份工作，工作时间不定时。
“夜间托儿服务相信有助于低收入家庭解决托儿安排的问题，希望这些家庭能以低价甚至免费享有服务。家长知道孩子有安全的托管环境，可放心地工作。孩子也能在安全环境获得指导，培养社交情绪管理等能力。”
家长杨筱卿（36岁，经理）认为，夜间托儿服务可以满足一些得轮班工作，又没有亲友帮忙的家长。“但夜间服务还不普遍，收费因该不便宜。若推出服务的目的是协助低收入家庭，收费须保持低廉。我庆幸有母亲帮忙，偶尔因工作赶不及在傍晚7时前到托儿所接孩子，还能请母亲代劳。”
学前教育业者童馨园营运总临李城慧指出，若延长服务时间，业者得考虑中心是否有足够的人手，以及工作流程和安全因素等。此外，如果孩子童长时间没有接触居家环境，这未必对孩童身心发展有益。