CHILDCARE OPTIONS (Study on preferred types)

Dr Kanwaljit Soin asked the Acting Minister for Community Development, in view of the fact that there has been a doubling of dual career families in the last 10 years, whether he will commission another study on the existing and preferred types of childcare options that working parents would like for their children.

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi: Mr Speaker, Sir, my Ministry last conducted a survey on the existing and preferred child care arrangements of married working women in 1989. It showed that 65.2% of married working women with children aged 6 years and below placed their children with grandparents, immediate family members or relatives while only 5.6% sent their children to child care centres. Of the married working women yet to have children, 72.3% preferred child care by grandparents, immediate family members or relatives. Only 5.9% preferred child care centres. We believe these child care arrangement and preferences have not changed significantly in the last five years.

My Ministry decided since 1989 to closely monitor the demand for child care places through the centres' waiting lists and vacancy positions. In January this year, child care centres provided places for 10.7% of the total population of children aged 2 years to below 7 years. This is double the rate in 1989.

There are at present enough places overall to cater for mothers who want to use child care centres. Any mother who wants to send her child to a child care centre can find a place if she is not particular about the choice of centre. We find that this close monitoring, done on a quarterly basis, helps us to better plan for future child care places. There is therefore no need to carry out a survey on child care arrangements.

Dr Kanwaljit Soin: There has been a doubling of the dual income career families in the last 10 years. Does the Minister think that a study in the next 2-3 years is needed to take into account this change in demography?

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi: Sir, while the number of dual career families in Singapore has doubled in the last 10 years, the number of child care places has increased by more than 10 times. In 1983, there were 39 child care centres with 2,326 places. As at January 1994, there were 334 child care centres with 25,471 places. And by FY 96, we hope to have 32,000 places. The rate of increase in child care places has therefore more than kept pace with the increase in the number of dual career families.

Dr Kanwaljit Soin: Sir, I think the Minister has not understood. I am not talking of just child care centres. I am talking of child care options. So I am not questioning the Ministry on the number of child care centres. I was talking of the child care options.

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi: Sir, I have mentioned earlier that the child care options, ie, the preferences and the practices, have not changed significantly in the past five years. In other words, the majority of parents prefer to place their child care in the hands of their parents, grandparents or relatives.

Dr Kanwaljit Soin: Sir, with respect to the Minister, how would he know when a study has not been conducted?

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi: Sir, we have been in this business for some time. Through social workers and our own network, we believe that the arrangements have not changed much in the last five years.

Dr Kanwaljit Soin: Sir, would the Minister indicate when he would consider having another study done?

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi: When we feel that the time is right, Sir.