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02503

19 April 2003 

REGISTRATION OF KINDERGARTENS

Rationale for Registration 

1.          Presently, there are 437 kindergartens registered with the Ministry of Education (MOE), 308 are operated by the PAP Community Foundation (PCF) and 129 by other operators. These kindergartens have met the following registration requirements, namely: 

a. Premises approved for use as kindergartens and meeting all safety requirements stipulated by the relevant authorities such as the Fire Safety and Shelter Bureau and the Building and Construction Authority. 

b. Premises meeting health and hygiene requirements. 

c. Teachers possessing the minimum acceptable academic and pre-school teaching professional qualifications 

d. An appropriate curriculum for the development of kindergarten pupils. 

2.          The registration requirements are especially critical during this period of the SARS outbreak where there is heightened concern about health and hygiene. Adherence to these requirements will reduce the opportunities for transmission of the disease and safeguard the children attending kindergartens. Parents and the public at large should have confidence that children attending kindergartens are not placed at risk. 

3.          The Ministry of Education has therefore stepped up its enforcement of the health and safety requirements in kindergartens. Over the last week, MOE has served notice on 18 unregistered kindergartens to cease operations. 

4.          Unregistered kindergarten operators have to cease operations. They should take immediate steps to meet the safety and health requirements and apply for registration with MOE.

Registration Process 

5.          MOE is prepared to grant temporary registration within 2 working days to kindergartens which meet the safety, health and hygiene requirements. Operators must seek building and safety clearance from the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), Land Transport Authority (LTA), Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Fire Safety and Shelter Bureau (FSSB), as well as health and hygiene clearance from MOE. 

Status as at 19 Apr 2003 

6.          The list of unregistered kindergartens which have been served notices to cease operations is at Annex A. MOE has granted temporary registration to 3 operators (see Annex B). 

7.          MOE has also received applications for registration from 7 operators of unregistered kindergartens which were served notices to cease operations. However, none had the necessary clearance from the relevant authorities i.e. BCA, LTA, URA or FSSB, to certify that their kindergartens have met the safety and health requirements. MOE has been in contact with these 7 operators to provide them with advice on how they could obtain the necessary health and safety clearances quickly before resubmitting to MOE. 

Additional Information 

8.          MOE understands that children are affected by the closure of unregistered kindergartens. However, it is important that they be educated in a safe and hygienic environment. Parents can refer to the MOE Pre-school Education Unit website (http://www.moe.gov.sg/preschooleducation) for a list of registered kindergartens. For more information, they can contact MOE at Tel: 6872 2220 during office hours.

Annex A

UNREGISTERED KINDERGARTENS  
THAT HAVE BEEN SERVED NOTICES TO CEASE OPERATIONS