Fewer kids skipping preschool

FOLLOWING an islandwide campaign by grassroots leaders and educators, the number of children who skip preschool has halved over the past two years, according to recently released statistics.

Last year, about 870 children missed out on preschool, which is increasingly seen as an essential part of a child's education. The numbers, announced in Parliament last week, are down from about 1,600 at the start of the previous year.

Many children who miss out on preschool come from non-English speaking families and have parents who are unable to teach them. Attending preschool betters their chances of doing well at primary school and beyond, as they learn English and numeracy skills, and develop other skills, such as how to interact with other children in their age group.

The improvement follows a concerted effort by grassroots leaders to educate parents about the importance of preschool.

Since 2007, officials from the Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, and grassroots organisations have been identifying families who hold back their children from attending preschool.

Grassroots leaders follow up by visiting these families, who often either cannot afford to send their children to preschool, do not understand the importance of an early childhood education or are neglectful because of problems like divorce.

Grassroots leaders suggest solutions, such as applying for cash help via financial assistance schemes set up to pay for preschool (see box).

These efforts have allowed the MOE to cut the percentage of children who do not attend preschool to 2.5per cent at the end of last year, from 4.2per cent at the beginning of 2007.

MOE director of education programmes Sum Chee Wah said: 'These efforts require a door-to-door approach. Grassroots leaders have to commit time and effort, and at times carry out more than one home visit, to ensure the child is enrolled in a preschool.'

Grassroots leader Robert Tay, 41, of the Long Vale Residents' Committee in Bedok Reservoir View, has been carrying out home visits since 2007.

The 41-year-old, an assistant manager at an independent financial advisory company, said half the battle is getting parents to understand the importance of preschool. Some still have the entrenched perception that it is all about play.

He said: 'It is hard to change their mindsets if they don't believe in preschool.'

Mr Tay helped six-year-old Fitri Nur Fadillah Rosli to enrol at a PAP Community Foundation kindergarten branch in Fengshan this month. She missed a year of kindergarten last year because her parents could not afford the fees, which are about $100 a month.

Her father, Mr Rosli Idris, who lost his job as an operations supervisor with a building and maintenance company last March, said Mr Tay helped him understand the importance of an early start.

'I thought I should try my best to get her a place in kindergarten,' he said.

After applying for subsidies, the family now pays about $40 a month for the youngster's school fees.

While getting more children into preschool is a step in the right direction, educators said primary schools should follow up by closely monitoring the progress of children who are late in entering preschool, or who miss it altogether.

Said Seng Kang Primary School principal Lim Lan Chin: 'These children face two problems - they are slower in picking up language and mathematics literacy skills, and may not be socially ready for primary school.'

'To me, the priority is to help the children be socially ready. They have to feel comfortable interacting within a community. It is paramount to help them to start school as happy learners.'