Desmond Lee
Singapore
“The Leadership, Enrichment, Achievement, Participation and Service (LEAPS) 2.0 is a framework for recognising student participation and achievement in secondary school co-curricular programmes.”
“The Ministry of Education (MOE) is mindful of the impact that rising temperatures may have on our students, teachers and officials taking part in the National School Games. Matches are scheduled only after students have had the time to train and become progressively more heat acclimatised.”
“As shared in Parliament in March 2026, the proportion of students with special educational needs (SEN) in mainstream schools has remained stable, at around 7% of the overall student population. This stability is observed across both primary and secondary schools.”
“The Ministry recruits and assesses applicants based on merit and suitability for the teaching profession, regardless of gender. We look for individuals with a passion for teaching, a belief in the potential of every child, and who possess the values and character to make a positive difference in students' lives.”
“Over the past five years, an average of 750 teachers resigned from the Education Service annually, representing a resignation rate of around 2%.”
“MOE has also progressively strengthened open access within the Primary 1 Registration Framework through Phase 2C, which is open to students regardless of whether they have prior connections to the school. MOE had increased the number of reserved Phase 2C places from zero to 20 in 2014; and from 20 to 40 in 2022.”
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“Ben's mother has been unwilling to care for him since he was born. Ben's father was uncontactable. Once, Ben was admitted to the hospital for a persistently high fever. Doctors recommended surgery to prevent further medical complications but Ben's mother was unwilling to provide consent. MSF had to apply to the Court for orders to allow Ben to undergo the necessary surgery. The new ECPO will allow the foster parents, with MSF's authorisation and in consultation with medical practitioners, to make a more timely decision to allow Ben to be treated. At this point, I wish to assure Members that the ECPO does not sever the legal ties between parent and child. Parents who disagree with any decision made by MSF or designated caregivers can bring the matter to Court for determination. And even after an ECPO is made, parents may apply to vary or revoke the order, if there has been a material change in circumstances from the time when the ECPO was made. This requires the parents to demonstrate significant and sustained changes in addressing the safety concerns that have hitherto hindered family reunification and the child must be assessed to be ready for contact with the family and eventual reunification. Let me move on to talk about a special group of people – our foster parents. We currently have 510 foster families. They are among some of the biggest-hearted people in Singapore. Children grow up best in a supportive family environment, especially if they have been abused or neglected. So, MSF's preference is to place such children in foster families, rather than in residential facilities, such as children's homes, if it can be helped.”
“The mother was also unable to consistently adhere with her treatment plans and her mental health condition was assessed to be long-term. Given the condition of Joshua's mother and her poor response to medical treatment, it would not be in Joshua's best interests to be reunified with her. She would not be able to adequately care for Joshua, especially with his special needs and young age. Other scenarios where reunification is not in the interests of the child are where the parent had severely ill-treated or allowed other persons to severely ill-treat the child or another child under his care and custody; the parent had been convicted of causing or trying to cause death to a child in his care and custody, or to the other parent of the child. In these scenarios and for cases like Joshua's, the children are likely to spend many years and perhaps even the majority of their childhood in out-of-home care despite best efforts at reunification. We should do what we can to provide them with a sense of stability. Therefore, clause 41 of the Bill enables the Court to place such children under a new Enhanced Care and Protection Order (ECPO) up till the age of 21. The ECPO allows MSF and designated caregivers to make day-to-day, as well as more substantive decisions, such as overseas travel, just as what parents would do in normal family settings. But sensitive decisions that are neither day-to-day in nature nor ordinarily made in the care of a child, can only be made with parental consent or the Court's authorisation. Let me give an example of how the ECPO would have made a difference for a boy called Ben, again not his real name, whom MSF had placed with foster parents. Ben is today 13 years old, has multiple conditions that require frequent medical appointments.”
“Particularly, where the matters are more sensitive or significant, the caregivers would wish to respect the views of the child's parents. But getting parental consent can sometimes be challenging because these are the very parents from whom the children have had to be removed for safety reasons in the very first place. Some of them are uncontactable. Some will not cooperate and make things difficult for the foster parent or the children's home. As a result, the development and emotional well-being of the children who have been removed for safety reasons can be further affected. The Bill enables MSF and designated caregivers to provide smooth and stable out-of-home care arrangements for such children. Clause 41 allows MSF and designated caregivers to make day-to-day care decisions for children under a Care and Protection order without the need for parental consent. More substantive decisions for the children, such as overseas travel, can be made only if MSF establishes that the parents cannot be contacted despite reasonable efforts, or are otherwise incapable or unwilling to decide. Of the children who are in out-of-home care, MSF has handled cases where, despite the best efforts of professionals and the community, it is not possible nor in the interest of the child to be reunified with his parents. Take, for example, five-year-old Joshua, again not his real name. Joshua was referred to MSF for possible neglect by his mother. He has a developmental disorder and requires extra care to meet his developmental milestones. His mother was diagnosed with a mental health condition. MSF placed Joshua with foster parents, who were harassed by Joshua's mother because of her delusional belief that they were ill-treating him.”
“She also frequently blamed Valerie for anything and everything that went wrong. When a relative who took care of Valerie fell ill, the mother would call Valerie a jinx. Valerie's parents argued frequently over her. Whenever her father tried to protect or side with her, the mother would threaten to commit suicide. Valerie was very much affected by the emotional abuse. She fears and, not unexpectedly, bears hatred towards her mother. Her anger, coupled with anxiety, has manifested as aggressive and rough play in school. This is a 10-year-old girl who needs help. We need to see past her behaviour and recognise the emotional harm that is within. I highlight Valerie's case to show that emotional or psychological abuse and its impact may not be as readily observable as physical abuse and injury, but the harm to a child is no less significant. The new amendments make clear that cases like Valerie's fall within the scope of CYPA. Where children have to be removed from their families due to safety concerns, it can be unsettling for them to be placed in an unfamiliar environment. Their anxiety may be compounded if there are changes from their usual routine. Or the children may feel abnormal or inferior to their school mates, if placed in situations that remind them of their incomplete families and disadvantaged backgrounds. The persons who are entrusted with the care of such children, such as foster parents or staff of children's homes, handle a range of matters related to the child's welfare and development. This can range from day-to-day care matters, such as personal grooming, dietary arrangements and health vaccinations, to more substantial matters, such as overseas travel, choice of school, surgery and so on.”
“Under the Act today, we can intervene to provide care and protection to a child in a range of situations. One of these is if "there is such a serious and persistent conflict within the family that relationships are seriously disrupted and the child suffers emotional injury". However, the term "emotional injury" is not defined, giving rise to confusion about whether we can intervene. The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has also encountered other situations where a child's emotional well-being has been severely affected and help should be rendered. To address this, clauses 2 and 4 of the Bill define emotional harm, which includes manifestations, such as delayed development or post-traumatic stress disorder. Emotional harm which causes serious impairment to the child may not always be as readily or immediately observable as physical injuries, such as bruises or burns. The clause also provides a non-exhaustive list of circumstances in which a child is deemed to be in need of care and protection because of emotional or psychological abuse by parents. These are based on established child protection guidelines, such as those from the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. By sharpening the meaning of emotional or psychological abuse, the amendments give better guidance to all stakeholders – MSF, social service agencies and the Court – on when we should intervene and when we need not. Take the example of Valerie, not her real name. She is 10 years old. Valerie's mother would deliberately isolate her at home or confine her to her room to minimise her interactions with other people. She frequently told Valerie that she was dirty, smelly and unclean and refused to hold her "unclean" hands.”
“The Youth Court should not only aim to facilitate the protection and rehabilitation of the child but also facilitate his reintegration with his family and with society; and second, the Youth Court should have regard to the needs of and risks faced by the child and prevent any further ill-treatment or offending. We do this to ensure better outcomes for children and break the cycles of abuse, neglect and offending. Let me now run through the other main features of the Bill, which fall broadly into four categories. If you look at the infographic that we have just distributed, you will see four pockets of amendments. I will take you through the Bill in the course of its Second Reading and you can follow accordingly. First, we will cover provisions that safeguard the interests of abused or neglected children. So, taking action and intervening for children who are abused or neglected. The second group of amendments relate to improving the rehabilitation and reintegration of youths with offending behaviour. The third relates to guiding families in their parenting, with support from the community; and most people would refer to this as the beyond parental control regime (BPC). Lastly, strengthening partnerships with the community to care for vulnerable children. Let me start with the first set of amendments: protecting abused or neglected children. Currently, the Act allows us to intervene to protect children below 16 years of age. Clause 2 amends the definition of "young person" and "juvenile" to raise the age limit to cover children below the age of 18 so that we can intervene when the safety of older children is threatened. This is in line with the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Singapore is a signatory.”
“Thank you. Sir, sometimes, in our work as Members of Parliament, we encounter families that have faltered, where the children have been abused or neglected, or have gone wayward or run into trouble with the law. These families need a lot of support and intervention, to make sure the children have the best shot in life in spite of their circumstances. This is where the Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA) comes in. It provides for the welfare, care, protection and rehabilitation of children and young persons below 16 years of age, whom I will subsequently refer to collectively as "children". The Act was last amended in 2011 and a review is, therefore, timely. In preparing for this Bill, we consulted many stakeholders, including social service agencies, volunteers and professionals, and I met some of them in May this year. They gave strong support for the proposed changes and also provided valuable feedback. The concerns and suggestions they have raised helped us to make many refinements to the Bill that Members see now before you. Let me begin by highlighting the two guiding principles behind the Act. These are set out in section 3A of the existing Act. First, parents have the primary responsibility for the care and welfare of their child; and second, in administering or applying the Act, the welfare and best interests of the child must be the first and paramount consideration. Section 28 of the existing Act also sets out the considerations that the Youth Court must take into account when it hears cases. Under clause 24 of the Bill before Members, we propose to widen this.”
“Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." With your permission, Sir, may I request the Clerks to distribute an infographic on the Bill to signpost the debate?”
“The Ministry of Social and Family Development's (MSF's) residential homes1 provide care and support to vulnerable individuals who have limited or no family support. These include low-income frail seniors, destitute persons and adults with disabilities. The Homes are run by Social Service Agencies and funded by MSF, providing support to the residents in meeting their daily care needs through a team of inhouse care staff and other professionals, such as social workers, therapists and nurses. All Homes actively identify residents who may have mental health issues, so that appropriate support can be provided. In addition, some Homes partner external agencies, such as hospitals, Agency for Integrated Care, and the Singapore Association for Mental Health, to (a) diagnose and assess the severity of the residents' medical and psychiatric conditions, and (b) provide physical, mental wellness, rehabilitative and re-integrative programmes, to improve well-being of the residents. Residents who require acute care treatment for physical or mental health conditions are sent to hospitals or the Institute of Mental Health. The Residential Homes staff work closely with the hospitals on post-discharge care and monitoring after the residents return to the Homes.”
“We thank Mr Murali Pillai for his suggestion and agree that the birthday of a centenarian is a significant occasion. It would be most meaningful to celebrate such an occasion via grassroots-led ground up efforts, where we celebrate not just the birthdays of centenarians, but the kinship and community bonds forged with family, neighbours and the broader community. Grassroots and community leaders would be well-placed to organise such celebrations in an organic manner. The Ministry of Social and Family Development and other agencies, such as the Silver Generation Office, would be happy to support these efforts, for example, through sharing of information on centenarians whom the agencies come into contact with and who would likely be involved in these celebrations.”
“Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)1 who are receiving institutional care reside in the Children Disability Homes (CDHs), Adult Disability Homes (ADHs) and Welfare Homes (WHs). CDHs admit PwDs below the age of 16. As at June 2019, there were 40 children residing in CDHs. This number has been relatively stable in the last 10 years. The ADHs and WHs provide institutional care for PwDs aged 16 and above. As at June 2019, there were about 890 PwDs from age 16 to 642 residing in ADHs and WHs, compared to 780 PwDs in 2009. Another 110 PwDs aged 65 and above were residents in the ADHs and WHs. The age profile of these PwDs is as shown in the table below. Seniors who require assistance in activities of daily living and/or daily nursing care needs, as well as have little or no family support may be cared for in nursing homes. As at end-2018, there were about 12,000 subsidised nursing home residents, compared to 8,000 in end-20143.”
“Working parents with citizen children below seven years of age are provided with six days of paid childcare leave. Employers absorb the cost for the first to third days, and the Government reimburses employers for the fourth to sixth days under the Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL) scheme. Utilisation of these Government-paid leave schemes has been slowly rising. The estimated percentages of eligible working mothers and fathers who took four, five and six days of GPCL respectively in the past three years are shown in Table 1 below. Introduced in 2013, the Government-Paid Extended Childcare Leave (ECL) provides working parents with two days of paid ECL per year if they have a citizen child aged seven to 12. The estimated percentages of eligible working mothers and fathers who took one or two days of ECL respectively are shown in Table 2 below. Breakdown of data on the take-up of GPCL and ECL is not available before 2016.”
“They have also provided networking platforms for SEs to engage industry experts and increase understanding of social issues to co-create impact. Regionally, raiSE is exploring the formation of an informal network of SE sector developers, to facilitate the exchange of ideas between SEs within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and eventually support our SEs in gaining access to markets outside Singapore.”
“Social enterprises (SEs) play an important role in our social service landscape, in providing impactful and innovative solutions to address social needs. As business entities with clear social goals, they lie between for-profit businesses and charities, by pursuing the double bottom line of both financial performance and social impact. Hence, they are entities distinct from social service agencies, which are non-profits or charities. Recognising that SEs require support and encouragement, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) set up the Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise, or raiSE, in 2015, with the strategic aim of nurturing SEs. As a sector developer, raiSE provides capacity building and funding support for SEs to grow both their businesses and social impact. The VentureForGood (VFG) grant under raiSE, which is funded by MSF, aims to support SEs that are starting up or expanding their operations, with up to $300,000 in grants. As at end of financial year 2018, raiSE has supported more than 120 SEs with committed funding of over $11 million under VFG. There are no plans to create another separate scale-up programme for SEs, as SEs are able to leverage existing grants and support under raiSE and Enterprise Singapore to accelerate growth and scale. raiSE will continue to provide advisory services to guide SEs in navigating the available resources and support. In addition to funding support, raiSE is also building up an ecosystem of support for SEs, and equipping SEs with the requisite skills, knowledge and capabilities. To this end, raiSE has launched masterclasses, mentorship programmes and provided strategic coaching in collaboration with industry partners and like-minded individuals who support SEs.”
“In addition, an Inter-Agency Research Workgroup for Youth Suicides has been set up as part of the recommendations by the NurtureSG Taskforce. The Workgroup, led by IMH, has been studying the issues surrounding youth suicides, and facilitates deeper collaboration between the various agencies. The Workgroup seeks to deepen its understanding of risk factors as well as protective factors surrounding suicides and consider ways to better raise awareness and support for our youths. More recently, in May this year, Parliament passed the Criminal Law Reform Bill to amend the Penal Code to decriminalise attempted suicide, because the threat of prosecution and the labelling of persons who attempt suicide as "offenders" may worsen their emotional state and the stigma they face. At the same time, the abetment of attempted suicide remains an offence, and the Police will continue to be able to intervene in suicide situations. Every life is precious, and each suicide is one too many. We will continue to work together to strengthen our national response for suicide prevention.”
“The number of suicides involving 10- to 19-year-olds fluctuates year-on-year, ranging from 12 to 27 cases in the past five years. While there is no discernible trend, the Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) are very concerned about youth suicides and we are monitoring this closely. The underlying causes of suicide are complex, so a multi-pronged approach has been taken to prevent suicide. This includes: (a) building resilience and supporting mental well-being among young people; (b) raising awareness on mental health issues; (c) reducing stigma and encouraging youths to seek help if they are experiencing mental health difficulties; (d) identifying and supporting those at risk of suicide; and (e) intervening in crisis situations where urgent help is needed. MSF works closely with agencies, such as MOE, MOH, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), the Health Promotion Board (HPB), the National Council of Social Service, and with community partners, such as the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS), on these inter-agency efforts. For example, HPB partners schools on psycho-emotional programmes to equip students with skills to manage stress and emotions and build supportive relationships with peers. Students may also be referred to school counsellors and mental health professionals, such as the Child Guidance Clinic, where necessary. Beyond schools, SOS conducts programmes to teach teenagers how to identify suicide warning signs and where to seek help. SOS also runs a 24-hour crisis hotline, manned by trained adult volunteers, to counsel persons in distress.”
“The Assistive Technology Fund (ATF), administered by SG Enable, is a subsidy scheme to help persons with disabilities (PwDs) to defray the cost of buying, replacing, upgrading and repairing assistive devices. The Fund covers devices used for rehabilitation, education, employment, early intervention, training and independent living. In the financial year (FY) 2018, a total of 2,037 PwDs benefited from ATF, an increase from 1,450 and 1,808 PwDs in FY2016 and FY2017 respectively. The total amount disbursed over the past three years was $10 million. Thus far, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and SG Enable have not received any appeals for further disbursements beyond the $40,000 individual cap under ATF. PwDs who require information and advice on the use of assistive technology can also visit Tech Able, an integrated assistive technology space at the Enabling Village. They can view a range of assistive technology solutions, as well as receive services, such as assessment and advice, by onsite specialists. MSF is committed to supporting the adoption of assistive technology among PwDs as this can help to maintain and improve the functional capabilities of the individual and allow them to better integrate into society. We have set up a cross-sectoral workgroup under the 3rd Enabling Masterplan this year, which will further look at how technology and design can be leveraged to support independent living for PwDs.”
“These services are offered to families of PwDs who may need short-term assistance in providing care for their loved ones. Caregivers seeking respite care services should approach SG Enable if they require information or support.”
“While DAC fees may vary based on the programme that the client is enrolled in, low-income families are given more subsidies to keep the fees affordable. Caregivers can also tap on the Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) Levy Concession and the FDW Grant for PwDs to defray the cost of employing an FDW to look after family members with disabilities. Working caregivers may also qualify for tax reliefs if they are supporting spouses, children, parents or siblings with disabilities. There are also several schemes administered by SG Enable to financially support PwDs to live independently in their homes and the community. For instance, the Assistive Technology Fund subsidises up to 90% of the cost of buying, replacing and repairing assistive technology devices that help them to live independently. These schemes also include various transport subsidies, such as the Public Transport Concession Scheme for PwDs, Voluntary Welfare Organisation Transport Subsidies, Taxi Subsidy Scheme, and the Disabled Persons Scheme, to support PwDs who are unable to use public transport and require a vehicle to earn a living. Low-wage Singaporeans with disabilities can also benefit from two Workfare schemes to increase their wages and enhance their skills. The Workfare Income Supplement tops up the salaries and Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings of low-wage workers, with up to $3,600 in cash and CPF contributions annually, while the Workfare Training Support scheme provides support to encourage low-wage workers to upgrade their skills. SG Enable also helps job-ready PwDs to look for employment. Respite care services are currently provided by nine Adult Disability Homes and three Children Disability Homes.”
“The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) currently does not have data on the number of households with persons with disabilities (PwDs). We are working with the Department of Statistics to include this and other disability-related questions in the next population census to be conducted in 2020. There is a range of financial support and subsidies for PwDs across different life stages. Depending on their household income and financial circumstances, they may qualify for financial assistance schemes, such as ComCare Long-Term Assistance, Short-to- Medium-Term Assistance and Student Care Subsidies. Low-income PwDs and their families are also eligible for various disability schemes across life stages. At the preschool stage, all Government-funded centres that offer the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children have schemes in place to help families subsidise EIPIC fees. There is also another subsidy scheme, the Enhanced Pilot for Private Intervention Providers, for parents with children enrolled in selected private intervention centres. Financial subsidies are also available to caregivers of students in Government-funded Special Education (SPED) schools. This includes the SPED Financial Assistance Scheme to help eligible students get a full waiver of school fees, free textbooks and free school attire. SPED schools are also given a grant for Discretionary Financial Assistance, to be given out by the school. Like all other students, Singaporean students with disabilities in mainstream schools can also qualify for financial assistance based on their family's financial circumstances. After graduation, PwDs may enrol in Government-funded services, such as Day Activity Centres (DACs) and Sheltered Workshops.”
“Over the next few years, parents will increasingly have more affordable and quality preschool options to choose from, as we increase the number of Anchor Operator and Partner Operator preschools and add a few more MOE kindergartens. By around 2025, the share of Anchor Operator, Partner Operator and MOE preschool places will rise to eight in 10. In the medium term, as Government-supported preschools grow, we will lower their fee caps so that parents will pay around the equivalent of primary school fees plus after-school student care fees for full-day preschool, before means-tested subsidies. Already, Government-supported operators have helped to stabilise preschool fees in the sector. Median full-day childcare fees fell for the first time in 2016 when the Partner Operator scheme was introduced and have been maintained since. We expect median fees to be brought down further when we expand the Partner Operator scheme to bring in more preschools in 2021, along with a lowering of their fee cap from the current $800, before Goods and Services Tax, per month for full-day childcare. Increasingly, parents will enjoy more access to affordable and quality preschools for their children. This ensures a good start for every child and strong support for parents in raising their families.”
“Today, Ministry of Education (MOE) Kindergartens1, Anchor Operators and Partner Operators provide slightly over half of all preschool places. Anchor Operators and Partner Operators are subject to fee caps stipulated by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) and are required to ensure that any fee increase is moderate and their fees do not exceed the caps. In fact, the fee caps for Anchor Operators and Partner Operators have been maintained at their current levels since 2014 and 2016 respectively. Each year, some Anchor Operator or Partner Operator centres that charge below the fee caps may make some moderate fee adjustments to maintain sustainability. However, the fee caps help to moderate any increase in fees for a significant proportion of the preschool sector. The remaining half of preschools are provided by private and not-for-profit operators. Like childcare centres that are under the Anchor Operator and Partner Operator schemes, families whose children attend these private and not-for-profit childcare centres also receive the Basic Subsidy and means-tested Additional Subsidy. But these operators are not subject to fee caps and have flexibility in setting their fees. We recognise that fees may be adjusted from time to time in response to market conditions and operational costs. By and large, most preschools seek to ensure that their fee increases are not excessive, in order to remain competitive and attractive to parents. All preschools are required to inform parents and ECDA of any increase in fees by 1 September of the preceding year, so that parents can make an informed choice about their child's preschool.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That Parliament do now adjourn." [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Providing Housing for Single Unwed Parents and their Children 7.15 pm”
“Government-Paid Paternity Leave (GPPL) and Shared Parental Leave (SPL) were both introduced in 2013 to support fathers in playing a bigger role in child-raising. Since 2017, fathers have been eligible for two weeks of GPPL, doubled from one week previously, and up to four weeks of SPL, increased from one week previously, shared from their spouse's Maternity Leave. The estimated percentages of fathers who did not take at least one day of GPPL or SPL in the last five years are shown in Tables 1 and 2 below. The percentages are based on records of employers who have submitted claims for the leave taken by their employees, and the pool of eligible fathers based on the working status of fathers as declared at the point of application for Baby Bonus. The take-up of GPPL increased between 2013 and 2017. More than half of eligible fathers took GPPL in the 2017 cohort. The GPPL take-up for 2018 will likely increase further as fathers can take paternity leave up to one year after their child's birth, and employers then have up to three months after the leave was taken to submit claims. Consistent with the experience of other countries, fewer fathers take SPL than GPPL. Nevertheless, SPL provides parents the option to manage their caregiving arrangements flexibly.”
“Childcare centres are allowed to close for up to a maximum of six days each year to carry out organisational activities, such as curriculum planning and staff training. This also includes one day off for early childhood educators on Teachers' Day. Preschool operators take the opportunity to bring their staff together for skills upgrading on a range of topics, such as teaching methods and child management, updates on operational procedures for the safety and well-being of children, as well as team bonding activities. In setting the guidelines on closure days for childcare centres, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) strives to balance parents' childcare needs and the operational needs of childcare centres. Centres are required to inform parents about closure days at the beginning of each calendar year, and remind parents one month prior to each closure day. This enables parents to make alternative care arrangements for their children. From information provided by centres, the majority of centres utilise the full six days of closure annually. In 2018, 77% of centres who reported their closure days to ECDA1 had utilised the full six days of annual closure, and 94% of centres that reported to ECDA utilised five or more days of annual closure.”
“We do not and should not tolerate violence against any person, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. The Penal Code criminalises violence and the use of force against all persons, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) persons. The Protection from Harassment Act (POHA), enables victims of harassment to apply for protection orders against their perpetrators. The recent Criminal Law Reform Act has strengthened protection in both the Penal Code and POHA by enhancing penalties for offences against vulnerable persons and victims of violence in intimate or close relationships with the perpetrator. The recent POHA amendments have also strengthened the protection framework for intimate partners under POHA. Our institutions and social workers are trained to be sensitive to the diverse needs of victims of violence, including those of LGBTQ persons. Victims of violence may approach our Social Service Agencies, such as Family Violence Specialist Centres and Family Service Centres, for assistance. These services are provided to anyone in need, without discrimination. No victim of violence should have to suffer in silence. The Ministry of Social and Family Development has run public education initiatives to raise awareness. Our Break The Silence campaign, in particular, focuses on the role of bystanders in preventing and reporting acts of violence, regardless of marital status or sexual orientation of the victim. Everyone has a part to play to prevent, detect and report all forms of violence.”
“I thank the Member for his suggestions. If we think of a PCN, typically, they are between 2.5 metres and four metres. And it is a shared path – people who walk, brisk walk, jog, run, cycle, use mobility devices. It is a shared space for people to move from place to place, for people to commute. And so, for the PCN to be a safe space for everyone depends on a couple of factors. One would be physical infrastructure. So, clear markings make it easier for people to follow certain rules. Or physically segregated pathways, so that you are very clear these are for pedestrians and these are for other users. That is one – physical infrastructure. Secondly, the enforcement of rules. NParks does enforce, like LTA, against reckless behaviour and speeding. Thirdly, public outreach and education. As the Member rightly pointed out, we need to continue this effort to share with all PCN users about the safe use of PCNs and the co-existence of different users of PCNs. Lastly, of course, and I think probably the most important, would be user consideration and etiquette and the behaviour and habits of all PCN users. So, a combination of all these will make the PCNs a much safer space for everyone.”
“The table below shows the number of unique households receiving ComCare Long-Term Assistance1 (LTA) and Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance2 (SMTA) from financial year (FY) 2013 to FY2017. The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) does not have readily available data on the number of new recipients for ComCare LTA and SMTA from FY2013 to FY2017. In FY2017, 66.5% of households on ComCare SMTA received assistance for a total duration of longer than three months. MSF regularly reviews the cash assistance rates and the ComCare eligibility criteria. In our review, we look at daily living expenditure data of low-income families collected by the Department of Statistics. We also consider input from community stakeholders, such as social workers and frontline officers. We most recently increased our ComCare cash assistance rates from 1 July 2019. Apart from monthly cash assistance for their daily living expenses, households may also receive employment assistance, assistance with their household bills and medical bills, and referrals to other Government agencies and community partners for relevant services.”
“On the current student intake, the occupational therapy and physiotherapy Bachelors' courses are run by the Singapore Institute of Technology, while the speech therapy graduate-entry Masters’ course is run by the National University of Singapore. The average total annual intake of these courses from 2016 to 2018 was around 220. MSF and the Ministry of Health will continue to work with the institutes of higher learning to ensure that cohort sizes are commensurate with the demand for therapists from both the health and social service sectors, and that the content of the courses meets the needs of both sectors.”
“There are approximately 3,600 occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech therapists registered with the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) as at December 2018. Slightly more than half of these therapists practise in the public healthcare sector, and about 20% work in private practice. In either of these contexts, the therapists may work with children with special needs. Another 15% of AHPC-registered therapists are employed in Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF)- and the National Council of Social Service (NCSS)-funded Social Service Agencies (SSAs). These 230 occupational therapists, 150 physiotherapists and 140 speech therapists serve a number of social service programmes, including Early Intervention programmes for children with special needs, and Special Education schools. With the ramp-up in programmes serving children with special needs, MSF has funded three Therapy Hubs since 2015. These Therapy Hubs are run by SSAs. They train and deploy therapists to MSF- and NCSS-funded social service programmes, including those run by other SSAs which may not have sufficient scale to hire and retain their own therapists. The three Therapy Hubs have expanded their capacity significantly in the past four years, growing from approximately 170 therapists in 2015 to 260 therapists in 2018. More than half of these Hub therapists, or over 150 therapists, support paediatric intervention in multiple settings, including Early Intervention centres, Development Support provided in preschools, and Special Education schools. We will continue to support the Therapy Hubs and other SSAs so that they, in turn, can do their best to support children with special needs.”
“As of June 2019, we had 510 foster families, exceeding our target of 500 foster families. This is an increase of almost a third since June 2016, when there were around 390 foster families. There were 542 children in foster care as of June 2019, compared to around 390 foster children in June 2016. This is an increase of around 40% over the past three years. About 47% of children in care are looked after by foster families today. Our goal is to place two-thirds of such children in family-based care. To do this, we are taking a multi-pronged approach. Firstly, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) is working with Fostering Agencies, community organisations, religious groups and private organisations to raise awareness about fostering. We are also grateful that some of our foster parents readily step forward to share their experiences with interested families. Secondly, MSF will continue to provide close support to foster parents throughout their journey. For example, we provide preparatory training to prepare foster parents before children are placed with them. Case workers and other professionals also provide assistance and support to the foster parents during the period of care. We invite people who are keen to make a difference to the lives of vulnerable children through fostering to contact MSF to register their interest and find out more about foster care.”
“As announced at MSF's Committee of Supply debate earlier this year, MSF is piloting a Localised Community Network in Jurong West. The pilot will enable relevant Government agencies to pull together data and identify at-risk youths early, and coordinate agencies and partners in the local community to more seamlessly serve the youths and their families. MSF will continue to partner other Ministries and SSAs to provide convenient, comprehensive and coordinated social services, so that all youths have the opportunity to develop to their full potential.”
“We recognise that youths-at-risk often face multiple stressors, including weak family support, negative peer influence and financial difficulty. Since 2018, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has appointed nine Social Service Agencies (SSAs) to run a suite of programmes aimed at addressing different at-risk behaviours. For example, a core programme is the Enhanced STEP-UP, which helps youths who are either at risk of dropping out or have stopped attending school, to continue their education or acquire work skills and employment. It provides individual casework and counselling to address specific risks and needs of our youths. Recognising that youths-at-risk do not naturally seek centre-based help, MSF has appointed two SSAs since 2012 to run the Youth GO! Programme. Youth workers do street outreach and build a social relationship with the youths before moving on to case management or deeper engagement through interest-based activities. The interest-based activities engage the youths constructively and provide an alternative to youths’ negative activities. The Ministry of Education has also established the Uplifting Pupils in Life and Inspiring Families Taskforce to strengthen upstream support for students from disadvantaged families, such as by enhancing after-school engagement programmes. The programmes seek to improve the students' connectedness to school, community and peers, and strengthen their motivation and resilience. It is not uncommon that at-risk youths are in families that face multiple challenges. Family Service Centres work with such families to address a range of issues to ensure that both the youths and their family members receive support that is timely and effective.”
“As of February 2019, there are about 30 childcare centres in Yishun estate with a licensed capacity of 430 infant care places. While we do not have the wait lists of individual centres, through the Registration Management System under the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), about 100 parents in Yishun have registered interest in an infant care place for their child. This constitutes 2% of all parents with infants living in Yishun. Often, parents may register their interest early without an immediate need for infant care places as they have alternative arrangements, such as home-based care, or have registered interest for specific centres. Nevertheless, about 10 centres have immediate vacancies, and another 10 have vacancies within the next six months. Parents may have to wait longer if they prefer to send their infants to specific centres. Providing access to quality, affordable infant and childcare remains a key priority for the Government. We will continue to increase capacity where needed to meet demand for early childhood services, including infant care. By 2022, we plan to develop another six centres to provide 130 more infant care places in Yishun. They will be built in tandem with future new Build-To-Order housing development, so that they can be operational in time to meet parents' needs.”
“In addition, the Health Promotion Board provides management training workshops that equip managers and human resource personnel with the skills to foster a supportive workplace environment, recognise common mental health issues, and encourage help-seeking behaviour. While our current policies and definitions have served us well thus far, the Government will continue to review the reach and efficacy of our policies and services as we work with the disability sector to strengthen support for persons with disability under the Enabling Masterplan.”
“In line with the Convention, disability schemes and services in Singapore are designed to facilitate the participation of individuals with hearing impairment and visual impairment conditions, physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder – a type of mental disorder, as well as children with developmental needs in areas, such as education, transport, employment, training, recreation and care, such that they are recognised, empowered and given every opportunity to be integral and contributing members of society. Disability schemes and services do not comprehensively target individuals with mental health conditions as the Government's support for this group is focused on their recovery and reintegration into society. The Government has adopted a comprehensive and multi-pronged approach in this regard. Through the National Mental Health Blueprint and the Community Mental Health Masterplan, the Ministry of Health has enhanced mental health promotion and upstream prevention; improved early detection, intervention and disease management; and adopted a collective front to better integrate health, social and community support. Jobseekers with mental health conditions who require employment assistance can approach the Job Club under the Institute of Mental Health, as well as the Singapore Anglican Community Services’ Employment Support Services. They can also tap on the employment support programmes under Workforce Singapore's Adapt and Grow initiative. The Institute of Mental Health and the National Council of Social Service have also developed a Peer Support Specialist programme where persons in recovery can be trained and employed as Peer Support Specialists to provide support to other persons with mental health conditions.”
“The Enabling Masterplans define "persons with disability" as those with substantially reduced prospects of securing, retaining places and advancing in education and training institutions, employment and recreation, due to physical, intellectual and sensory impairments, as well as developmental needs, including Autism Spectrum Disorder. This definition was endorsed in 2004 by the first Enabling Masterplan Steering Committee, comprising representatives1 of the disability sector, the private sector and the public sector. Our disability schemes and services are guided by this definition. In determining if an individual's conditions fall within the disability criteria, medical assessments and examinations of the socio-functional limitations faced by persons with disability are done by medical professionals or suitable non-medical professionals, such as therapists. The Steering Committee in 2004 assessed that the medical diagnosis ensured rigour in determining what constituted a disability, while the socio-functional examination ensured that economic, environmental and cultural barriers were also taken into account. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities does not explicitly define which conditions constitute a disability but notes that persons with disability include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.”
“These textures may not be meaningfully expressed in a qualitative study. Every study has inherent limitations as assumptions must be made which do not always pan out in reality. However, studies like the recent one by LKYSPP are useful in raising awareness of the need of each individual to deliberately plan for the future, and to seed discussions on how we can help those who are in need. We hope that in raising awareness of these issues, we can work together as a society to support individual resilience, the strengthening of families, and support in the community, even as the Government continues to strengthen social support and the delivery of social services to help those in need.”
“The Short-to-Medium-Term cash assistance rates have also been enhanced correspondingly. Importantly, in the design of schemes, such as ComCare, agencies are given discretion to adjust the assistance given based on individual circumstances that low-income and vulnerable individuals and families are in. The Minimum Income Standards study published by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), like other studies and reports, offers an additional data point for the Government to consider on what an elderly person may regard as essential for his well-being. When considering such studies, however, we need to understand their strengths and limitations, whether design, methodology or conclusions, so that we draw the right learning points. For instance: (a) the study was based on input from about 100 elderly persons and is unlike typical quantitative approaches which aim for representativeness; (b) the report also acknowledges that figures derived from the study may underestimate healthcare costs which are covered by various Government subsidies, such as the Community Health Assist Scheme; in computing the minimum income that a senior needs for retirement, the study included a budget for housing in a Housing and Development Board (HDB) 2-room flexi flat. However, since most seniors would have used sales proceeds from their larger flats to purchase the HDB 2-room flexi flats, it would not be appropriate to include a housing budget in the estimates for most individuals; (c) the estimates also include the cost of discretionary expenditure items, such as overseas holidays and jewellery. Elderly individuals' desired quality of life may differ according to their circumstances, health status and lifestyle preferences.”
“Our public assistance schemes offer targeted assistance to meet different needs. ComCare, a key component of our social safety net, provides assistance to the low-income and vulnerable, to cover their basic living needs, such as food, clothing, transportation and communications. Low-income families are also supported by other schemes, such as the Ministry of Education Financial Assistance Scheme which supports the schooling expenses of children from lower-income families, the Public Rental Scheme which provides highly-subsidised rental housing, MediFund which provides assistance with medical expenses, and the Silver Support Scheme which supplements the retirement income of elderly who had low lifetime incomes and now have little family support. As each assistance scheme has different objectives and target groups and meet different needs, the eligibility criteria and benefits are based on different information sources and benchmarks. These are regularly reviewed by the Government. For instance, the Ministry of Social and Family Development regularly reviews the ComCare eligibility criteria and cash assistance rates. In our review, we look at expenditure data for daily living expenses of low-income families, as well as national statistical data collected by the Department of Statistics. Some of this data is published. We also consider input from community stakeholders, such as social workers and frontline officers, who work with low-income families, as well as beneficiaries. Our ComCare cash assistance rates were recently raised with effect from 1 July 2019. The Long-Term Assistance cash assistance rates for a single-person household was increased from $500 to $600, and larger households will receive higher amounts.”
“There are also ongoing efforts to support opportunities for persons with autism to contribute to the wider community. For example, NCSS has worked with a group of community partners1 to engage persons with disabilities, including those with autism, to deliver customised dinner meal sets to vulnerable seniors. These volunteer and social interaction opportunities help persons with autism form social networks within the community. We also set up the Special Needs Trust Company to support parents and caregivers with subsidised trust and care planning services. Recently, we launched several workgroups with cross-sectoral representation, including members of the disability community, to look at making preschools more inclusive, improving employment opportunities, and increasing the ease of independent living for persons with disabilities. Going forward, we will continue to take a whole-of-society approach to supporting persons with autism throughout their lives, to enable persons with autism to realise their true potential as integral members of society.”
“Those with moderate to severe autism who require more intensive and specialised assistance in their education are supported in special education (SPED) schools, such as Pathlight, AWWA School and St Andrew's Autism School. We also work with partners to help young persons with autism prepare for working life. For example, the School-to-Work Transition Programme offers customised training pathways and work options for students with disability, including those with autism. This is a multi-agency collaboration among the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social and Family Development, SG Enable, and the SPED schools, to support students in their transition from school to employment. SG Enable offers Disability Awareness and Disability Management courses to enhance the capabilities of employers looking to hire and retain persons with disabilities. SG Enable also partners ARC to provide jobseekers with autism with job placement and support. ARC runs an Employability and Employment Centre located within the Enabling Village to provide training and customised employment to persons with autism. Opening more opportunities for employment also requires changing the mindsets of employers and customers who interact with employees with autism. Under the "See the True Me" campaign, Kentucky Fried Chicken Singapore, which hires over 90 employees with disabilities, came up with specially designed tray-mats. These tray mats contain tips for patrons on interacting with persons with disabilities, for example, encouraging them to be patient. Minister for State Zaqy Mohamad will share more on the Government’s efforts to integrate persons with disabilities, including those with autism, into the workforce.”
“For children with moderate to severe developmental needs, they are supported through the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children, provided at 21 Early Intervention centres across Singapore. Children with mild developmental needs receive short-term targeted intervention through the Developmental Support and Learning Support programmes in some 550 preschools. Earlier this year, I announced enhancements to make early intervention services more affordable and more customised. The subsidy enhancements have lowered the out-of-pocket expenses for early intervention services for most families by 30% to 70%. We are progressively rolling out more customised early intervention services, such as the Development Support Plus programme, to support children with mild to moderate developmental needs within preschools. This will give parents greater assurance that intervention is tailored to their child’s specific needs and build a stronger foundation for the child to develop to his or her fullest potential. During the schooling years, students with mild autism who can access the national curriculum are supported in mainstream schools by specialised manpower, such as teachers trained in special needs and Allied Educators for Learning and Behavioural Support. These Allied Educators are able to provide group intervention for students with autism to learn social and communication skills. Specialised school-based intervention programmes are also available to support students with mild developmental needs, including autism. For example, students with both dyslexia and mild autism would be supported by the school-based dyslexia remediation programme to build up literacy skills.”
“The Government closely partners the people, private and public sector to raise awareness of autism and provide support to persons with autism. Several Social Service Agencies, such as the Autism Resource Centre (ARC), the Autism Association Singapore, St Andrew's Autism Centre, the Asian Women Welfare Association (AWWA), and Rainbow Centre, are committed to serving persons with autism and their families. We work with these agencies, and other partners, to raise awareness of autism, provide for detection and early intervention, educational support in the schooling years, job support, social inclusion and care services. Persons with autism or their caregivers can also approach SG Enable for information and referral to various support services. A key factor to greater inclusion is improving awareness and understanding of autism. The National Council for Social Service (NCSS) has been running the "See the True Me" campaign since 2016, in partnership with the Tote Board. The campaign encourages the public to see persons with disability for who they are, instead of the disability that they have. It has also helped to raise awareness of autism by showcasing the abilities of persons with autism, and by profiling employers with inclusive hiring practices. We tap on the network of polyclinics and general practitioners (GPs) to detect autism in children early. Polyclinics and GPs may refer children to the Child Development Programme at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital and the National University Hospital for diagnosis of developmental concerns, including autism. Children diagnosed to be at risk of autism are referred to subsidised Early Intervention services for developmental and therapy intervention.”
“A Special Marriage Licence (SML) is required before civil marriages, where at least one party is below 18 years of age, can be solemnised. The process includes a comprehensive assessment of the applicants' suitability for marriage. For Muslim marriages involving a Muslim girl below 18 years of age, an SML is not required, but a Kadi must first assess whether the marriage can endure and is beneficial to both individuals before he solemnises the marriage. In addition, for both civil and Muslim marriages where at least one party is below 21 years old, the couple are required to attend a mandatory marriage preparation programme. Consent from the minor's parents or guardians is also required before the marriage can be solemnised. The gender breakdown and the average age gap for successful SML applications from 2013 to 2017 are as follows: The number of civil and Muslim marriages involving at least one party below 18 years old is as follows:”
“Such a cliff effect would strongly disincentivise families to upgrade themselves and rise out of poverty. Together, the various assistance schemes form a social safety net that provides help to Singaporeans in need and more help to those who need it more. To further strengthen social service delivery, the Ministry of Social and Family Development is spearheading a whole-of-Government effort to ensure that support is comprehensive, convenient and coordinated. For example, we have been streamlining assessment protocols. ComCare clients will be automatically assessed for MOE financial assistance and HDB public rental rates. We will expand this arrangement progressively to cover more schemes and agencies. Social assistance schemes and criteria are also continually reviewed to ensure that their objectives are being met.”
“Our social assistance schemes meet different needs and have different target groups. ComCare supports basic living expenses. The Public Rental Scheme provides highly-subsidised rental housing. The Workfare Income Supplement Scheme tops up the incomes and Central Provident Fund savings of lower-wage workers to incentivise employment and retirement savings. The Ministry of Education (MOE) Financial Assistance Scheme supports the schooling expenses of children from lower-income families. Agencies incorporate data and information from multiple sources when formulating these schemes and design the eligibility criteria taking into account not just income but also other factors relevant to the particular scheme. For example, ComCare Long-Term Assistance considers whether a person is unable to work due to old age, illness or disability and has little or no family support. Flexibility is also exercised when applying the criteria. For example, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) exercises flexibility to allow those with household incomes above $1,500 to live in public rental housing based on their circumstances. The different criteria for different schemes also reflect our policy priorities. For example, education subsidies tend to be set higher, both in their income ceiling and subsidy quantum, because we strongly believe in the importance of education in opening doors to opportunity, addressing inequality and uplifting social mobility. There is another advantage of having eligibility criteria separately tailored to the different schemes. This way, we avoid creating a single critical income threshold, which when crossed causes families to simultaneously fall out of all the assistance schemes.”
“There are currently four Crisis Shelters, which assisted 190 family violence cases on average each year over the same period. There was an average of about 180 families in the transitional shelters and crisis shelters in each of the three years. Each year, these shelters also assisted an average of about 60 cases comprising foreigners who sought help on their own or were part of a transnational household.”
“The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) works closely with Government and community agencies, such as the Housing and Development Board and social service agencies, to assist homeless families and individuals in need. Some had sold their flats due to debt or divorce before becoming homeless. Others may have homes but are unable to return to them for various reasons, such as conflict with their family members or co-tenants. There are also individuals who are unable to work and have no means of support. Families and individuals who have homes but who are not able to return to them are referred to MSF-funded Transitional Shelters. These shelters provide temporary accommodation, while social workers work with the families and individuals to address underlying social issues and secure long-term housing arrangements. For individuals who are unable to support themselves and have limited or no family support, long-term residential care and support are provided by our Welfare Homes. These homes help to meet residents’ basic needs, as well as help them improve their emotional and physical well-being through rehabilitation programmes. Those who are homeless because they experienced family violence at their homes and need a safe place away from the abuse are referred to MSF-funded Crisis Shelters for temporary safe accommodation. Social workers will work with them to address their safety issues and provide them with counselling and other services. There are currently three Transitional Shelters and 11 Welfare Homes serving vulnerable groups operated by Voluntary Welfare Organisations with MSF funding. Between 2016 and 2018, MSF provided assistance and support to an average of about 290 individuals per year who were homeless, destitute or sleeping in public places.”
“The Government will continue to seek feedback and review measures to better support the needs of caregivers, including those who are caring for both the young and the elderly.”