"Government will strengthen support for young families: Josephine Teo
SINGAPORE: The Government will aim to strengthen support for young families, particularly in areas such as childcare provision, said Manpower Minister Josephine Teo on Tuesday (Feb 5).
Speaking during a Chinese New Year visit to healthcare workers and patients at KK Women's and Children's Hospital, the minister noted that the Government has been working on strengthening the availability of childcare, ensuring accessibility and quality, and keeping fees affordable.
Compared to 2012, she added that childcare places have more than doubled. By 2023, the total number of places available will grow to 200,000, she said.
"If you look at the rate at which the childcare sector has expanded, I think it has made a definite difference," she added.
Mrs Teo also said that boosting Singapore's fertility rate would involve not just one area of support.
These include housing support, childcare and flexible work arrangements, said the minister, adding that these are other areas the Government will continue to work on."
This low fertility issue has been ard for at least 10-20 yrs in the making. Some of the factors shared over the earlier years are the same as today or 1 yr ago: high cost of housing, high cost of bringing up a child through to 18 yrs old, etc.
These factors are NOW getting the attention of, N most importantly the actions taken by, the government as it belatedly, acknowledged that the public is right!
The baby step of "SG50 Baby Bonus" of a few billions were invested to get the fertility rate up.
Now the other tangible costs are been tackled too.
Besides giving MORE subsidies, which is unsustainable, the ROOT Causes of why the costs of bringing up a child r so high need to be tackled.
Education of young parents on how they can economically n prudently spend their hard earned money in their child/children's development would help. Plus how they can b Role Model for their kids on being: money smart, study smart n b the best that each can be regardless of academic achievement!!
SINGAPORE: The Government will aim to strengthen support for young families, particularly in areas such as childcare provision, said Manpower Minister Josephine Teo on Tuesday (Feb 5).
Speaking during a Chinese New Year visit to healthcare workers and patients at KK Women's and Children's Hospital, the minister noted that the Government has been working on strengthening the availability of childcare, ensuring accessibility and quality, and keeping fees affordable.
Compared to 2012, she added that childcare places have more than doubled. By 2023, the total number of places available will grow to 200,000, she said.
"If you look at the rate at which the childcare sector has expanded, I think it has made a definite difference," she added.
Mrs Teo also said that boosting Singapore's fertility rate would involve not just one area of support.
These include housing support, childcare and flexible work arrangements, said the minister, adding that these are other areas the Government will continue to work on."
This low fertility issue has been ard for at least 10-20 yrs in the making. Some of the factors shared over the earlier years are the same as today or 1 yr ago: high cost of housing, high cost of bringing up a child through to 18 yrs old, etc.
These factors are NOW getting the attention of, N most importantly the actions taken by, the government as it belatedly, acknowledged that the public is right!
The baby step of "SG50 Baby Bonus" of a few billions were invested to get the fertility rate up.
Now the other tangible costs are been tackled too.
Besides giving MORE subsidies, which is unsustainable, the ROOT Causes of why the costs of bringing up a child r so high need to be tackled.
Education of young parents on how they can economically n prudently spend their hard earned money in their child/children's development would help. Plus how they can b Role Model for their kids on being: money smart, study smart n b the best that each can be regardless of academic achievement!!
No comments:
Post a Comment