SUBSIDIES FOR FEES AT STUDENT CARE CENTRES

SUBSIDIES FOR FEES AT STUDENT CARE CENTRES: 15.

Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports whether the Ministry will consider providing subsidies for parents who send their children to student care centres.

The Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports (Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon) (for the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports): Mr Speaker, Sir, MCYS currently provides subsidies for student care fees under the Student Care Financial Assistance (SCFA) Scheme for families with household incomes of up to $2,500 per month. The subsidies range between $60 and $180 per child. About 2,600 children currently benefit from the SCFA Scheme. We have no plans to introduce more subsidies beyond the SCFA, as student care fees are still generally affordable.

Mrs Josephine Teo: Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I came across a household where the sole breadwinner – the father – told me of an instance where his child was receiving student care subsidy. He subsequently received a salary adjustment. He got more pay but as a result of that, the student care centre stopped giving him the

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subsidy. So, he said that, "I ended up getting $200 more pay but I also ended up with no subsidy, so in essence, I did not experience a pay increase." Could MCYS look at, perhaps, tiering the subsidy so that the family still feels that it did have improved circumstances and not have the subsidy taken away?

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon: I think we can consider that.