Education Minister Heng Swee Keat visits St Hilda's Primary on the first day of school!
School-based Student Care Centres (SCC) extend the learning environment beyond schooling hours and enhance social, emotional, recreational, physical and intellectual development of pupils. Working parents can set their minds at ease, knowing that their children are taken care of.
The formation of 14 new SCCs in January 2013 will bring the total number of SCCs to 80, which is more than 40% of primary schools in Singapore. Two are Special Education (SPED) schools, Chaoyang School and Grace Orchard School.
"Student Care Centres are not substitutes of the home and teachers are not substitutes for parents. What we do is provide additional facilities that allow us to help students learn better," said Education Minister Heng Swee Keat, during his visit to St Hilda's Primary School (SHPS) yesterday.
Pupils are welcomed to their first day of school at a holding site along New Upper Changi Road, while their main building undergoes upgrading under the PERI initiative.
The school welcomed its pupils on their first day at a holding site, as its main school building is currently undergoing upgrading in line with Primary Education Review and Implementation (PERI) recommendations. In 2015, they will return to improved infrastructure, including additional rooms for a school-based SCC, if required.
School-Based Student Care Centres
Schools are given the autonomy to decide if a school-based SCC is required, based on the profile of their pupils and availability of a community-based SCC. School-based SCCs are run by external operators within the compound and are overseen by schools.
"After I joined the SCC, there are uncles and aunties (staff of SCC) to help me in my school work," said Damien Pang, a Primary 5 pupil from Townsville Primary School, "I enjoy the outdoor activities especially soccer. There are activities to keep me occupied during school holidays so I don't feel so bored at home."
Damien is also a recipient of the Student Care Financial Assistance (SCFA) scheme, administered by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), which ensures the affordability of SCCs for lower income families.
Three primary schools are currently undergoing a pilot programme to explore improvements for the SCC model, so they can assist with early intervention and promote stronger parent-child bonding. As such, priority will also be given to pupils who are unable to get the home support that they need.
Home-School Partnership
"The home is the child's first school," said Minister Heng, "and the parent is the child's first and most important teacher."
Mr Tio (second from left) encouraging dads of new P1 pupils to be involved in Fathers @ SHPS.
At SHPS, Minister Heng commended parents, especially the fathers, for being there to support their children on the first day of school. Fathers @ SHPS, a support group that champions father-child bonding, organises activities almost every month to encourage dads to get involved.
SCCs can be safety nets for parents who are working, but parents cannot rely solely on schools, said Mr Tio Chong Heng, a procurement officer at a telecommunications company and the Secretary of Fathers @ SHPS.
Mr Tio uses after office hours or weekends to plan events. Currently, they are preparing for "Sleeping with Fishes", an overnight stay in March at the Underwater World for dads and their children.
Minister Heng mingles with parents, such as Mr Lam, during his visit to St Hilda's Primary School.
For Mr Jimmy Lam, father of twin Primary One boys at SHPS, it is important that he relates important values to his children. They were homeschooled by him for six months prior to the start of school, so he could spend time with them and close the gap between what they are taught and what he, as a parent, expects of them.
"Now, they are very excited to start school and make friends!" said Mr Lam.
Source: http://www.schoolbag.sg/archives/2013/01/education_minister_heng_swee_k.php
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