Higher student-care subsidies for financially needy children
The CDAC Student Care Centre at Bendemeer Primary School. TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — There will be higher subsidies for financially needy children attending Student Care Centres next year, in tandem with a projected increase in fees.
A circular on the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s (MSF) website said each child under the ComCare’s Student Care Fee Assistance Scheme (SCFA) will get as much as S$30 more in subsidies per month starting from January, depending on his family income. The increase in the subsidy is based on a higher “norm fee” of S$290 — the norm fee currently is S$260. Norm fee is calculated based on the reported fees charged by registered service providers. Close to 7,000 families are expected to benefit from the higher subsidies, said an MSF spokesperson. Poorer families get higher subsidies under the SCFA. The subsidies can offset up to 98 per cent of SCC fees, up to a maximum amount of S$285.
The MSF spokesperson said the subsidy adjustment is part of the ministry’s regular review to keep fees affordable for lower income families with working parents. The last revision was in July 2012.
“Student Care Centres set their fees according to their programme and services. Student care fees are generally affordable,” the spokesperson added. Student Care Centres provide before- and after-school care for children aged seven to 14 years. Services typically offered include meals, homework supervision and tuition.
After the revision to the subsidies, students whocome from families which have a household income of S$1,500 and below, or gross per capita income of S$375 (for households with five or more family members) will be subsidised up to S$285 per month if their monthly student care fees cost at least S$290. If their monthly student care fees are less than S$290, students within this income bracket will receive a 98 per cent subsidy.
More families will also qualify for subsidies under the SCFA because the household income ceiling will be raised from S$3,500 to S$4,000 — or a gross per capita income of up to S$1,000 for families with five or more members.
Besides the income parameters, the child must be a Singaporean or permanent resident whose parents are both working to qualify for the SCFA. Of the 15 Student Care Centres TODAY contacted, three said they plan to raise monthly fees next year due to higher operating costs, including staff salaries.
For instance, the centre at Edgefield Primary School, run by MERCU Learning Point, will raise fees from S$230 to S$250, while fees at Compassvale Primary School’s centre, run by Pro-Teach Education Group will be raised from S$280 to S$290. Another three centres run by MERCU will raise registration and material fees.
The Chinese Development Assistance Council, which currently charges S$285 at its two Student Care Centres in Bendemeer Primary and Chongfu School, said it will assess the need to revise fees after the contracts expire next year. There are currently more than 400 Student Care Centres where the SCFA can be administered. These centres offer more than 26,000 places and the MSF has plans to further expand this capacity. More than 110 of the SCCs are now based in primary schools, up from fewer than 50 in 2011. MSF said it is working with the Education Ministry to increase the number of school-based centres to 140 by the end of next year.
CORRECTION: In an earlier version, we wrote that Student Care Centres provide before- and after-school care for children aged seven to 17 years. This is incorrect. They provide for children aged seven to 14 years. We are sorry for the error.
