The majority of children from families on a new scheme to give low-income households a leg-up did not attend pre-school regularly.
“Only 26 per cent of families on the ComLink+ scheme that enrolled their children in centers run by anchor operators, such as PCF Sparkletots Preschool and My First Skool, sent all their children to pre-school regularly in 2023,” as reported by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) on Nov 19.
The Supporting Lower-Income Households Trends Report highlighted key trends in social support and progress made by lower-income households.
“A total of 9,153 families, out of 13,871 families living in highly subsidized Housing Board rental flats that were approached, have joined the ComLink+ scheme as at December 2023,” said an MSF spokeswoman.
“The ComLink+ Progress Package for Pre-school was the first to be officially rolled out in August. Under the package, each child enrolled in pre-school will get a one-time $500 top-up to the Child Development Account (CDA) in the year he or she turns three,” added the report.
The report looked at three domains where data was available – income security, children’s development and education, and housing – to evaluate the progress of ComLink+ families towards reaching stability, self-reliance and social mobility.
“About a third of these families, or 34 per cent, have substantial savings in their CPF Ordinary Account, which can be used to buy an HDB flat,” the report revealed. However, only 2 per cent of families on the ComLink+ scheme have bought a flat and moved out of public rental housing.
Social worker Ian Peterson emphasized that regular pre-school attendance is crucial for a child’s development, highlighting the impact of parental challenges on pre-school participation.
“If the child doesn’t go to pre-school regularly, it puts the child at a disadvantage when it comes to his peers in primary school. They learn to socialize and make friends (in pre-school). They also learn the basics of literacy and problem-solving,” said Mr. Peterson.
A firsthand account from a beneficiary of the ComLink+ scheme, a mother, Mrs. Choo, expressed her gratitude for the assistance her family received through the scheme. She highlighted the value of the CDA top-ups and the positive impact it had on her son’s pre-school experience.
In conclusion, many challenges are faced by low-income families in promoting pre-school attendance and highlights the efforts made by the ComLink+ scheme to address these issues, aiming to support stability, self-reliance, and social mobility among the low-income families it serves.
