• In the 1970s, many children from low-income families or single-parent families were left alone at home as their parents had to work. As a result, they were known as “latchkey children”.

• This phenomenon prompted the Department of Social Welfare to intervene and supervise childcare centres in Singapore. But as childcare centres only served children under the age of seven, they could not fully satisfy demand. The Department of Social Welfare eventually expanded its childcare services, which evolved into what are now known as student care centres.

• Student care centres in Singapore are basically divided into for-profit and non-profit organisations, with the former making up a large part of the market.
  

• The number of school-based student care centres increased greatly between 2012 and 2018. All primary schools in Singapore now have school-based student care centres.

Tampines GRC MP Desmond Choo had oral questions regarding the number of students accepted into school-based student care centres as well as the centres’ utilisation rates. In response, Education Minister (Schools) Ng Chee Meng revealed the abovementioned data. He pointed out that the number of school-based student care centres has increased from 50 to 162 in the past six years. He also said that the Ministry of Education will be able to achieve its aim of setting up student care centres in all primary schools by 2020. (Lianhe Zaobao, 6/2/2018)

安亲班 (Taiwan)