Alternative news in 1 day? (part 92) – Childcare fees up more than subsidy?

March 24, 2014

I refer to the article “Childcare fee hike last year highest in at least 8 years” (Straits Times, Mar 24).

Childcare fees increased 11%?

It states that “Childcare fees increased again last year, in the steepest rise over at least eight years.

The median monthly fee for a full-day childcare programme was $830 last year, $80 higher than in 2012, statistics from the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), which oversees the pre-school sector, showed.

Before last year, the median fee had not gone up by more than $45 year on year since 2005.

Fees have increased by about 11% last year – 57% or 5.8% per annum for the last 8 years – much higher than inflation.

Please help to reduce rent?

Although staff costs have risen – why can’t the HDB lower the rentals that were typically given to the highest bidder.

What about all those families who do not qualify for any childcare subsidy or a low subsidy?

Oh no – not again?

This is like the never ending story in Singapore – that whenever subsidies are increased – fees may shortly increase even more.

Some examples in the past were HDB prices and healthcare fees.

Leong Sze Hian

SHARE TWEET PIN SHARE

About the Author

Leong
Leong Sze Hian has served as the president of 4 professional bodies, honorary consul of 2 countries, an alumnus of Harvard University, authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been a radio talkshow host, a newspaper daily columnist, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for theonlinecitizen and Malaysiakini, executive producer of Ilo Ilo (40 international awards), Hotel Mumbai (associate producer), invited to speak more than 200 times in about 40 countries, CIFA advisory board member, founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of 2 countries. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional  qualifications.