From next year, two Ministry of Education (MOE) kindergartens will pilot the Full-Day Model (FDM), integrating their existing kindergarten programmes and after-school care services to give children a more cohesive learning experience. The new model will be progressively rolled out to all MOE kindergartens between 2028 and 2030.
MOE announced on Wednesday (28 October) that the new model will be piloted next year at MK@Rivervale at Rivervale Primary School and MK@West View at West View Primary School.
Under the new model, MOE kindergartens will operate from 7am to 7pm every weekday during term time and school holidays, except on public holidays, MOE-designated school holidays and kindergarten closure days.
Parents who do not need full-day care can still opt for a half-day programme running from 7am to 12.30pm.
The opening of MK@Rivervale next year will bring the number of MOE kindergartens islandwide to 57. When kindergarten registration opens each March, MOE will announce which kindergartens will adopt the Full-Day Model the following year.
MOE kindergartens currently offer four-hour daily programmes for Kindergarten 1 (K1) and Kindergarten 2 (K2) children. Parents who need full-day care can separately enrol their children in Kindergarten Care (KCare), provided by external operators appointed by MOE.
MOE said about 8,000 children currently attend its kindergartens, with around 65% using KCare services.
MOE said that while the existing combination of kindergarten programmes and KCare has met the needs of children and families, families’ needs are evolving; integrating learning, play and care into a full-day programme run entirely by MOE would better support children’s holistic development.
The new model will not only give children a more cohesive learning experience, but also offer them more opportunities to interact with kindergarten staff and build closer relationships. Children from disadvantaged families will also benefit from a more consistent and comprehensive learning and care environment.
Under the Full-Day Model, MOE kindergarten teachers will work with MK Programme Officers hired by the ministry, who will help conduct programme activities and care for and supervise children.
MOE will also ensure that MK Programme Officers receive training that meets the Early Childhood Development Agency’s industry standards, covering areas such as interacting with children and child safety.
The Full-Day Model will offer more varied learning and play experiences. These include learning mother tongue languages through self-directed play, exploring outdoors with different toys, and taking part in school holiday activities that combine science, technology, engineering, mathematics, drama and visual arts.
MOE said the kindergarten curriculum will continue to focus on building children’s confidence and social skills, helping them develop strong foundations in literacy and numeracy, and preparing them for Primary 1.
Monthly full-day fees to start from $3 after subsidies
Parents will also pay a single fee to the MOE kindergarten rather than separate fees for kindergarten programmes and care services. MOE said that after applicable subsidies, out-of-pocket fees will be similar to the current combined fees for kindergarten programmes and KCare, and comparable to those at full-day childcare centres under the Early Childhood Development Agency’s Anchor Operator Scheme.
Monthly fees for full-day services at the two pilot kindergartens will be $665. After applicable subsidies, fees for Singapore citizen children will range from $3 to $425, depending on the subsidies their families qualify for.
The half-day programme will cost $310 a month, with fees for citizen children ranging from $1 to $160 after government subsidies. Monthly fees for permanent resident children will be $735 for full-day services and $320 for half-day services.
Fee details for other MOE kindergartens adopting the Full-Day Model between 2028 and 2030 will be announced later.
Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and National Development, visited the MOE kindergarten at West View Primary School on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters, he said the Full-Day Model was being introduced mainly in response to feedback from parents and teachers, and to adapt to changing needs for kindergarten services.
He said MOE kindergarten teachers’ working hours were expected to remain unchanged under the new model. “We are studying how best we can support their workload as they educate our young ones.”
Dr Syed Harun said MOE will draw on the experience of the two pilot kindergartens to assess staffing needs and further refine the new model, in preparation for its progressive rollout to all MOE kindergartens.
