In Parliament on 26 Feb 2026, I asked the Minister for Social and Family Development how many preschools offer care beyond 7pm. Currently, only 20 centres provide this service, a decrease from the 40 centres available in 2021.
I highlighted that for parents working in the CBD, reaching heartland preschools by 7pm is often a “logistical impossibility” without expensive daily commutes by taxi. I raised concerns that rigid cutoff times and a lack of domestic help disproportionately affect lower- and middle-income families, which could exacerbate social inequality.
To address this, I suggested that the Ministry consider requiring one designated preschool per HDB estate to stay open until 7.30pm. To prevent teacher burnout, I proposed that these extended hours be staffed by ancillary care assistants rather than core educators. I also asked if ECDA has conducted a proactive survey to gauge actual demand, as we cannot assume interest is low if parents have simply resigned themselves to the current reality.
The Minister of State noted the declining trend in centres and explained that the Ministry views extended hours as a business decision for operators. He emphasised the government’s focus on encouraging flexible work arrangements and cited studies suggesting that excessive hours in preschool can negatively impact a child’s literacy and numeracy development.
This is a video of the full exchange:
https://www.youtube.com/live/yCpJWbl1YH0?si=NMWhoHPZ3fGvAdPh&t=2126s
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