Singapore is building mega childcare centers

Singapore has an ambitious plan for the quality of life for its youngest citizens and their parents: quality and affordable childcare. The goal is not only to offer early childhood education and support to parents — but also increase the birthrate.

In the next five years, the government's goal is to help create 200,000 spots for babies as young as two months to six years in large early childhood development (ECD) centers that dot the island. These mega childcare centers can hold anywhere from 300 to 1,000 children.

[lady_elle]

Affordable daycare is crucial for working parents, hope this program succeeds so concept can be used elsewhere.

[GeraldineKoh]

As a Singaporean, I thought it would've been interesting if the documentary had featured some of the ways these mega centres work differently from other childcare centres such as the PAP childcare.
It doesn't quite show how the teachers and principles manage the scale of these places, given that young children require extra attention, and how kiasu Singaporean parents are managed as well by the educators.

[jl]

And this is why Singapore has the smartest kids topping all 4 categories of PISA. Damn that’s impressive

[sassypants]

I'm a preschool teacher in New Zealand, and my only concern with this ''chain'' of centres, given it's large student size (1000 kids at one of them!), would be teacher to child ratio.
i.e. small groups of children to adults, so that they can learn in a stimulating environment. Large class sizes when children are that young aren't good for the children and aren't good for the teachers. The children won't get the indivualized attention they need to engage in learning and the teachers will burn out due to the stress of planning, paperwork and just being with that many children day to day.
But I love that the government are getting behind early childhood education and see it as something inherently valuable to the children themselves and society as a whole, and making it afforable for families. And that they value their teachers as the skilled professionals that they (we) are. This is a fantastic initiative.

[christinafacts]

If governments want to solve the LOW BIRTH RATES problem, this is literally how you do it. But nooo, instead I've got a 12 month waiting list for 2 of my local daycares.

[stephennielsen]

As opposed to the US where the trend seems to be toward homeschooling and isolating children from a world too many parents perceive as evil

[summersnow]

Extremely important step for competing in today’s hyper competitive world. As a Singaporean, I applaud our government’s initiative.

[noname]

Initiatives like this work in countries where citizens value the citizen to the left and right of them. If the society believes as a whole, "every man for themselves, " then these program will not work. I am glad to see that when humanity is put first, great things can be accomplished.

[nataliec]

Totally Agree, i'm a new assistant childcare educator work in Melbourne. I really hope in future i have the opportunity or time go to Singapore work with them, is a good way to let children to build up their social development with other people beside family member. I'm not sure you guys heard before this sentence " Children learn through play" children will build up their all development from play or experience that they are go through. I'm not sure whether is true but different background children when to childcare, they learn new language is faster than other that not going to childcare, this is happen in Melbourne.

[nageabegum]

Love this video, feel like this should be happening everywhere in the world. Quality child care is definitely everything !

[jaridkeen]

I hope America I'll be Civilized enough one day to Fund a Proper educational system.

[LightofLightChurch]

I wish to have a good Preschool like this in Philippines.

[myriamkay]

Wonderful. Singapore knows what's up.

[joyce]

Props to the people who run these childcare centers. My mom runs an in-house preschool/daycare center and I don't know how she does it

[maerunway]

Child care is so important for a child's development. I'm seeing it first hand as my niece has been going to a private nursery since she was 8 months old, she is now 3 and she can already read, write and converse with adults at an impressive level. I didn't realise how advance she was until one of our family friends brought her daughter who is a year older to the house and you could immediately see the difference. I think it is so important that kids from as soon as possible get put into a social learning environment, it is so essential to their upbringing and it's giving them a head start in life

[annnoraa]

I HAVE to continue working and want to look after my baby....but howww....

[tunbara]

Today, the parent send their kid to childcare centre. Tomorrow, the child will return the gratitude by sending their parent to nursing home

[dannicordery]

I'm a proud early years educator in the UK, but love watching international videos for ideas
Always so much to learn.

[electricintakeify]

Aww so proud of Singapore. As a preschool teacher I know how hard it can be to convince the government/people that ECE especially play based is important.

[danachos]

....the subtitles are totally off-sync and incomprehensible. Please fix!!!