Masagos Zulkifli B M M
Singapore
“Coordination between Early Intervention (EI) centres, families and preschools is important for the continuity of support for children with developmental needs.”
“The Taxi Subsidy Scheme supports persons with disabilities (PwDs) who are unable to take public transport, by providing means-tested subsidies to offset the cost of taxi travel to school, work and employment-related training supported by SG Enable.”
“The Skills and Salary Guidelines published by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) guides social service agencies (SSAs) to pay their employees fair and competitive remuneration and maintain the sector's attractiveness. The Guidelines are adjusted so that salaries remain competitive with comparable roles in competing markets.”
“Staff turnover rates vary across social service agencies (SSAs). An individual's decision to leave an organisation is influenced by a myriad of factors, of which pay is only one.”
“Beyond the requirement of a structured daily programme, community-based SCFA administrators have the flexibility to offer programmes and additional enrichment activities that meet the needs of their students. MSF does not track staff salaries and turnover of SCCs in general nor those that administer SCFA.”
“Male preschool educators comprised about 1% of the early childhood workforce in each of the last five years. The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has not issued guidelines pertaining to the rules set by preschool centres specific to the conduct of male preschool educators.”
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“Day Activity Centres (DACs) are community-based facilities that provide care and skills training for adult persons with disabilities (PwDs). These centres aim to equip PwDs with community and daily living skills and meaningfully occupy clients with social and recreational activities. In planning for DACs, MSF seeks to ensure that there are sufficient spaces, distributed across Singapore, to cater to the projected demand from PwDs. There are currently 31 DACs, which provide more than 1,700 places to cater to persons with different disabilities. As at December 2020, the overall utilisation rate was about 75%. Eight of these centres specialise in serving clients with autism. As at December 2020, the average utilisation rate of these eight centres was about 80%. Apart from these eight centres, other centres may also serve persons with autism on a case-by-case basis. While there is sufficient capacity in DACs overall to cater to persons with autism, care-givers may prefer certain DACs for various reasons. Should the care-givers' choice of DAC be unavailable, they may be recommended or referred to other DACs so that they can secure suitable placements for their children. MSF will also continue to monitor the demand for places at DACs and work with providers to increase their capacity where necessary.”
“Among the cases investigated by MSF’s Child Protective Service in 2018 and 2019 involving children 12 years old and below, about 70 to 75% of the cases involved children living with either one or both biological parents. The remaining cases comprised households where parents have new spouses or partners, extended families, etc. All forms of family violence, including abuse against children must not be tolerated. If you are not sure that children are being abused in the family, but are worried because there are signs of abuse, please call the 24-hour National Anti-Violence Helpline at 1800-777-0000. This is a dedicated helpline for reporting of violence and abuse which started operations since last month. This helpline consolidates the support provided by various existing helplines dealing with abuse and violence. We urge neighbours, family members and members of the public to look out for each other, step forward and report concerns about abuse or neglect, so that children in our midst can be protected and assisted in a timely manner.”
“(c) Community organisations and national schools collaborate with the madrasahs to organise local and overseas community service projects. These projects provide madrasah students with opportunities to interact with other students and members of the community, and promote a deeper understanding of our multi-cultural and multi-religious values. These programmes include collaborations between Madrasah Wak Tanjong and Dunman High School to organise the Community Mini Festival for members of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDAS), and between Madrasah Al-Arabiah and OnePeople.sg for a dialogue on building trust in the community. MUIS welcomes more opportunities to work with the wider community, to equip our madrasah students with the necessary competencies and dispositions in building a Community of Success. As future asatizah, they will help shape the community’s Character, Competence and Citizenry. We must come together to invest in the development of our future generation. Our dedication and collective effort will help to nurture capable individuals who can contribute back not only to the Malay/Muslim community but also help to build a prosperous Singapore.”
“To be our future religious leaders and scholars, our madrasah students need to explore religious and contemporary issues from a broader perspective, not limited to traditional Islamic training. There are currently four madrasahs (namely Madrasah Aljunied, Madrasah Al-Ma’arif, Madrasah Alsagoff and Madrasah Wak Tanjong) that offer Pre-University Programmes. Students in these madrasahs mainly sit for their Aliyah (Islamic Studies) diploma and GCE A’ Levels. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) was introduced at Madrasah Aljunied in 2019, to provide a new option to its pre-university students in preparing them for their role in the religious sector. MUIS will study the impact such students can make to the religious sector when they start working. A review to extend the IBDP to the other madrasahs can then be made. Together with the support of MUIS and various community partners, our madrasahs provide their students with resources and opportunities to acquire the necessary skills, knowledge and values to be future asatizah. For example: (a) MUIS works with the madrasahs to incorporate technology in their lessons, such as using digital books and online learning platforms for religious subjects. Students are also taught in an engaging manner through a mix of traditional and innovative teaching techniques. (b) Key partners, such as mosques, non-profit organisations, national agencies, and private companies provide attachments and internship opportunities to madrasah students. For example, one madrasah student, Aqilah Zahidah Zainal, who participated in the three-month long CapitaLand Young Architect Programme, was awarded the Young Architect Award by CapitaLand in 2017.”
“As part of the practicality of Muslim law especially in helping Muslims navigate the complexities of daily life, there are established principles that allow for the unavoidable presence of very small amounts of non-halal ingredients. MUIS will continue to be guided by these principles. In the event of an investigation, such as the mislabelling of meat products, MUIS will work with the Singapore Food Agency's (SFA) National Centre for Food Science (NCFS) which has lab testing capabilities, including DNA testing.”
“MUIS takes a holistic and proactive approach to monitoring compliance with the requirements under MUIS’ halal certification framework. MUIS audits all halal-certified businesses at least once during their halal certificate validity period to ensure they comply to the standards1. In addition to the audits, MUIS conducts unannounced inspections on halal-certified businesses that process meats and meat-related products, to ensure that there are no intentional or accidental breaches of the halal certification terms and conditions. Businesses with poor compliance records are inspected more frequently. As part of MUIS’ routine checks, businesses producing meat and meat-related products are subject to random sampling once a year to ensure that there are no non-halal substances in halal-certified products and on equipment. MUIS may request that businesses provide an accredited laboratory analysis of the raw materials and processing aids used to confirm that the products do not contain non-halal ingredients, or MUIS may send samples for laboratory testing directly, themselves. MUIS will also scrutinise the relevant documentation such as halal certificates of products, any supporting documents and invoices, as well as confirm that there is no change to facilities layout and business operations. Moreover, MUIS will check for any misuse of the MUIS Halal Certification Mark. MUIS also requires businesses applying for halal certification to send their staff for training by MUIS and accredited halal certification trainers, so that they understand what it means for food to be halal, and how to implement the halal certification conditions properly.”
“The Government takes a zero tolerance stance against the sexual exploitation and abuse of children. This is reflected in our laws. On 1 January 2020, Penal Code amendments to enhance protection of minors from sexual exploitation came into force. These include new offences such as sexual communication with a minor under 16, and the production, distribution, advertising or possession of child abuse material. The number of such offences under the Penal Code has remained low and stable, and the Government has and will continue to ensure that our policies and laws deter abuse of and enhance protection for victims of such offences. While there are no plans for a national study at the moment, the Government regularly monitors trends and data, as well as consults stakeholder groups, including those who work with children who have suffered abuse. The safety and well-being of children is of utmost importance. In the preschool setting, the Early Childhood Development Centres Regulations prohibit staff or education service providers of licensed preschools from administering corporal punishment. In alternative care settings, corporal punishment is generally not administered in licensed Children and Young Persons Homes, but may take place for male residents in Juvenile Rehabilitation Centres with legislative safeguards in place. For example, corporal punishment is permitted only after an inquiry, where the person-in-charge of the Home must be satisfied that the male resident is guilty of serious misconduct (e.g. assault, instigation of mass disturbances, and promotion of gang activities), and that the resident’s actions warrant corporal punishment. Corporal punishment is legislatively prohibited for female residents, and residents with physical or mental disability.”
“The Office of the Mufti will also continually remind Muslims in Singapore against erroneous teachings and misinformation through Friday sermons as well as coverage in mainstream news (both print, broadcast and digital). MUIS also publishes fatwas on the MUIS’ website (https://www.muis.gov.sg/officeofthemufti/Fatwa). In the last 10 years, MUIS has received five complaints about individuals allegedly promulgating false doctrines. Any purported evidence of deviant teaching received by MUIS is presented to the Fatwa Committee to assess whether the allegations of false doctrine are true. MUIS and the Fatwa Committee investigated and addressed all of the complaints through the combination of issuing fatwas, counselling and public education. Should there be a case where the propagation of false doctrine is egregious, for example, if the person spreading the false doctrine is recalcitrant even after counselling, then MUIS may file a police report under section 139 of AMLA. If a police report is lodged, Police will investigate the case accordingly based on the facts of the case and consult MUIS on the religious matters entailed.”
“Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) takes a very serious view on the propagation of false doctrine, especially if it threatens our socio-religious peace and harmony, and our way of life in Singapore. At the Sitting on 4 January 2021, I addressed the matter of how MUIS adopts a multi-pronged approach to counter individuals spreading deviant teachings in the name of Islam. [Please refer to "Outcome of Cases Reported in Last 10 Years to MUIS for Contravention of Section 139 of Administration of Muslim Law Act", Official Report, 04 January 2021, Vol 95, Issue 14, Written Answers to Questions section.] To recap, section 139 of the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA) imposes criminal sanctions on those who propagate false doctrines. Any attempt to apply legislation to religious matters is carefully considered. As this is a religious matter, the Office of the Mufti and the Fatwa Committee are first consulted in dealing with such matters. Thus far, the religious authorities have advised that other approaches be adopted first, such as beginning with counselling, depending on the severity of the situation. If the perpetrators responsible for sharing false doctrines are registered under Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS), the Asatizah Recognition Board may cancel their ARS recognition. All ARS asatizah are also required to regularly upgrade and update their religious knowledge, and their suitability for accreditation is periodically reviewed. If they are unfit to be asatizah, such as if they breach the Code of Ethics, their ARS status will be suspended or cancelled. Therefore, Muslims should seek religious guidance only from ARS-recognised asatizah; the list of which can also be found on the MUIS website (https://www.muis.gov.sg/ARS-and-IECP/ARS/ARS-certified-Teachers).”
“MUIS’ Asatizah Training Credits (ATC) scheme aims to help asatizah develop the relevant skills to operate confidently amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This complements the national SkillsFuture efforts to encourage Singaporeans to upskill and reskill. Asatizah can use the ATC scheme’s credits to take up to six foundational courses in the following competency areas: (a) Digital Literacy; (b) Personal Development and Lifelong Learning; (c) Grit and Resilience; and (d) Tech-Enabled Learning and Delivery. There are also existing courses under MUIS’ Asatizah Recognition Scheme Continuing Professional Education on mental health and psychological resilience. More advanced and specialised skills such as coding, programming and media literacy are not currently offered under the ATC scheme but asatizah can use their SkillsFuture credits to attend relevant courses to acquire these skills.”
“The Community Care Endowment Fund (ComCare Fund) was launched by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2005 as a sustainable source of funds to provide social assistance to low-income Singaporeans. The interest income generated from the ComCare Fund is used to fund ComCare programmes. The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) publishes annual reports to provide an account of the utilisation of the ComCare Fund in the preceding financial year (FY). The Financial Statement in the ComCare Fund Annual Report for FY2019 presents the state of affairs of the Fund as at 31 March 2020. During FY2019 (i.e. 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020), $151.4 million was disbursed under the various ComCare programmes. Out of this, around $68.8 million was funded by the ComCare Fund’s interest income. The remaining $82.6 million was covered by MSF’s budget.”
“We will continue to work with relevant agencies to help more families benefit from the CDA.”
“Parents can open a Child Development Account (CDA) for an eligible Singapore Citizen child anytime from the child’s birth until the end of the year that he or she turns 12. Based on the 2008 to 2020 birth cohorts, around 450,700 children are eligible for a CDA. As at 7 December 2020, about 1.8% or 8,200 eligible children have not opened their CDA. We expect this number to decrease given the time frame to open a CDA. Parents can conveniently apply for the Baby Bonus Scheme and open a CDA for their child on the Baby Bonus website or the LifeSG mobile application. Information on how to apply for a CDA is also included in the Baby Bonus kit distributed to new parents at maternity hospitals and ICA’s birth registration counters. Subsequently, MSF regularly sends mail reminders to parents to apply for the Baby Bonus Scheme and open a CDA. MSF also works with agencies to reach out to those without a CDA. For example, MSF partners KidSTART Agencies under the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) to identify low-income families and help them apply for a CDA. We encourage all parents to open a CDA as the Government provides the CDA First Step Grant of $3,000, and co-matches parents’ savings up to a cap, depending on the child order. These help families defray the financial costs of child-raising and can be used by the child and his or her siblings for approved educational and healthcare expenses. For more information on the CDA and how to open an account, members of the public can visit MSF’s Baby Bonus website (babybonus.msf.gov.sg), or call the Baby Bonus hotline 1800 253 7707 for assistance. The Government is committed to building strong and resilient families, and helping all parents invest in their children’s future, including the more vulnerable children.”
“Our partners, including grassroots organisations, the Agency for Integrated Care and Social Service Agencies, have been referring such cases that they come across to us for support. During the circuit breaker period, SG Enable also set up a dedicated support team to attend to the heightened needs of caregivers and PwDs. MSF will continue to work closely with our partners to bring those who require help into our social support system. Likewise, we encourage members of the public to refer cases that may require help to MSF.”
“MSF has data on persons with disabilities, including persons with intellectual disability, who have applied for government-funded disability services. These services range from early intervention services and special education to adult disability services such as day or residential care and employment support services, and include schemes that support access by persons with disabilities to transport or assistive technology. MSF generally obtains the consent of individuals in need before sharing their personal data with non-government entities, such as charity organisations. Exceptions may be exercised by MSF in line with the Government Instruction Manual on ICT and Smart Systems Management, for example, to provide assistance to address concerns of an individual’s well-being or safety, where consent cannot be obtained in a timely manner. MSF may, for example, need to share information with social workers or healthcare professionals to help in the detection of abuse of vulnerable adults early, to ensure timely intervention. Before doing so, MSF will assess the need for sharing the data and ensure that a good balance is struck between achieving the intended purpose and respecting the privacy of persons in need. We typically work with other Government agencies, Government-appointed agencies and trusted partners on the ground to render support and assistance. The non-government entities in receipt of such personal data are obliged to protect and safeguard the data as required by the Government for the intended purposes, and in line with the Personal Data Protection Act. We recognise that there may be vulnerable persons with disabilities living on their own, or with senior caregivers, who may require more assistance.”
“Nevertheless, caregivers who are not appointed as deputies may still perform acts in connection with the care or treatment of a person without mental capacity such as bringing the person for a medical check-up, if the acts are done in the person’s best interests. Regardless of whether there has been a deputy or donee appointed, medical practitioners may decide on any life-sustaining treatment or treatment to prevent serious deterioration of a person. My Ministry does not plan to mandate the making of an LPA in tandem with significant transactions such as the purchase of a property, as it should be the donor’s choice on whether he wants to make an LPA. However, we are working with other Ministries and Statutory Boards, including the Housing and Development Board, to increase awareness of the importance of an LPA at relevant life milestones. We had also put out a consultation paper from 28 October to 18 November last year on the development of a full online LPA registration process and other improvements. The proposed initiatives are to make it more convenient for Singaporeans to make their LPAs, which we hope will drive uptake.”
“Most applications for appointment of a deputy are completed within 3 to 4 months of filing in the Family Justice Court. In some cases, the process may take longer if the case is complex, documents submitted are incomplete or if someone objects to the application. The application for deputyship can also be made using the Simplified Track. An urgent application under the Simplified Track for example, for one-time emergency funding below S$5,000 can be processed on an expedited basis, usually within three working days. However, where the documentation is incomplete or there is an objection, the approval would take longer. Prior to filing the Deputyship application in the Family Justice Courts, an applicant has to obtain a medical report to support the application. The time taken to obtain the report ranges from 1 to 3 months. There are three reasons why a deputyship application may be unsuccessful. The first is that the Court had determined that the care recipient has not lost mental capacity and is able to make decisions on his own without a need for a deputy. The second reason is that the application was contested and the Court decided to appoint someone other than the applicant caregiver. Third, the applicant caregiver was found by the Court to be unsuitable, in which case the caregiver could ask a family member or close friend to apply to be appointed as deputy. If there is no suitable family member or close friend, the caregiver may approach a Professional Deputy registered by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). The list of registered Professional Deputies can be found on OPG’s website. Where the care recipient has limited assets and no or little support from the next-of-kin, a pro bono Panel Deputy could also be appointed.”
“Amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic, MUIS has been working closely with government agencies to ensure the safety and well-being of Singaporean students in overseas Islamic universities, and limit disruption to their learning. As the pandemic started to spread across the world, MUIS worked with Ministry of Foreign Affairs, our overseas missions and foreign embassies to repatriate 410 Singaporean students studying in overseas Islamic universities on chartered flights and special travel arrangements. For 180 students with financial constraints, MUIS provided subsidies totaling $102,000 to defray the costs of airfare back to Singapore. Where possible, MUIS also facilitated online university examinations, so as to minimise disruption to the students' Islamic studies. MUIS also facilitated online Arabic classes and placement tests for students enrolling in overseas Islamic courses during the pandemic. In order to make the best use of the repatriated students' time in Singapore, MUIS organised a total of 41 workshops, webinars and engagements between August to December 2020, to allow them to pick up relevant skills and prepare themselves for employment in the Islamic religious sector. The webinars and workshops covered topics such as digital literacy and marketing, communication and public speaking, countering exclusivism, as well as support for mental health. MUIS also arranged internships and part-time employment for these students, in religious organisations and the social services sector. 72 students also served as Safe Distancing Ambassadors in the mosques, to keep our community safe from COVID-19. MUIS will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and advise students accordingly on the resumption of their overseas studies.”
“To date, 330 asatizah have applied for the Self-Employed Income Relief Scheme (SIRS). 77% of applications have been approved, while 10% are still in process. The remaining 13% of applicants were rejected as they did not meet one or more of the SIRS criteria. However, they may apply for the COVID-19 Recovery Grant (CRG). Those who require assistance with their CRG applications can approach MUIS. In addition to the SIRS and CRG, MUIS has also been providing other forms of financial support for asatizah whose livelihoods have been affected by COVID-19. This includes the $200,000 top-up to Pergas' Gracious Package, which provides financial assistance to asatizah who have been economically impacted by COVID-19. The Gracious Package supported 500 asatizah last year. MUIS thanks the Asatizah community for stepping forward during the COVID-19 pandemic to care for, guide, and lift the spirits of our Muslim community. Our asatizah are an important pillar of our society, and MUIS will continue to work with them closely to support the spiritual needs of our Singaporean Muslims.”
“The COVID-19 Support Grant (CSG) supported lower- to middle-income resident employees who, as a result of the economic impact of COVID-19, were: (a) Involuntarily unemployed due to retrenchment or contract termination; (b) Placed on involuntary no-pay leave (NPL) for at least three consecutive months; or (c) Experiencing monthly salary loss of at least 30% for at least three consecutive months. As of 3 January 2021, MSF had approved the CSG for around 97,000 applicants, and disbursed around $215 million in total. Successful applicants who experienced job loss or involuntary NPL may receive up to $800 per month for three months, and applicants who experienced salary loss may receive up to $500 per month for three months. Recipients of CSG could apply for a second tranche of support if they required further support and met the eligibility criteria. Table 1 provides the number of approved CSG applications and the median amount of CSG payout per recipient per tranche of support (i.e. for three months). These figures are accurate as at 3 January 2021. Applications for the CSG have closed on 31 December 2020. MSF launched the COVID-19 Recovery Grant on 18 January 2021 to support lower- to middle-income employees and self-employed persons whose livelihoods are affected by the economic impact of COVID-19.”
“We urge neighbours, family members and members of the public to step forward and report concerns about abuse, so that victims, especially children, in our midst can be protected and assisted in a timely manner.”
“Family violence is not a private matter. Our society does not condone it. The Break the Silence Campaign was launched in 2016 to raise public awareness and alertness about family violence. The Inter-Agency Taskforce on Family Violence was set up in February 2020 to further focus efforts to tackle family violence. As tackling family violence is a whole-of-community effort, the Taskforce comprises members from the Government, the Courts and partners such as hospitals, family violence specialist centres, crisis shelters and family service centres. The Taskforce has conducted a focus group discussion with community partners and intends to submit its recommendations to the Minister for Social and Family Development and Minister for Home Affairs in April 2021. Family violence and abuse against children must not be tolerated. Over the past few years, MSF has introduced rigorous screening tools and training to enable community partners at the various touch points to detect and act against child abuse. For example, educators, counsellors, and other professionals in preschools, schools, clinics and hospitals are alerted to pick up safety concerns involving children and intervene based on established protocols, including alerting MSF’s Child Protective Service. A key community partner – Centre for Promoting Alternatives to Violence (PAVE) has launched an app called "Community Guardian". This app allows grassroots leaders and volunteers to report family violence cases so that trained first responders in the vicinity can quickly investigate the incidents. The Taskforce has also stepped up efforts to bring in corporate partners and trained community leaders so that there are more eyes and ears on the ground to alert the authorities to possible instances of family violence.”
“The review of Foreign Halal Certification Body (FHCB) recognition framework aims to strengthen governance and transparency, as well as more closely align the framework to our domestic halal food consumption needs. As part of the review, MUIS will engage industry players, FHCBs and relevant stakeholders to gather feedback. More details will be announced later in the year.”
“In addition, the Teachers Training Support Grant sponsors madrasah teachers for selected training programmes with external institutions such as the National Institute of Education (NIE), Edith Cowan University and Republic Polytechnic. To date, 60% of madrasah teachers have benefited from training support programmes under this scheme. c. Specifically in the area of mental health, madrasah teachers are equipped with the skills and competencies to respond to the mental health needs of their students. In 2020, MUIS sponsored 16 madrasah teachers for the 'Certificate in Para Counselling' programme by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS), and the 'Post-Graduate Diploma in Islamic Counselling' and 'Situational Counselling' by Pergas. Currently, each madrasah has two to three teachers with basic training in counselling including identifying early signs of emotional trouble.”
“Mental health is an important aspect of our overall health and well-being. The Government has been working with the community to strengthen support for the mental health and well-being of our youth on various fronts. This includes Malay/Muslim youths and students in our madrasahs. MUIS partners community organisations with specialised expertise in the area of mental health to support the well-being of our madrasah students. a. One such partnership is with Club HEAL, where professional counsellors provide face-to-face counselling sessions and support to the madrasahs. Between 2018 and 2020, 175 mental health-related cases in the madrasahs were referred to Club HEAL for counselling support, for issues such as stress, low self-esteem, depression and anxiety. b. Other partners include the REACH teams (which stands for Response, Early Intervention and Assessment in Community Mental Health), Persatuan Pemudi Islam Singapura (PPIS) and the national network of Family Service Centres. Our madrasahs also conduct mental health talks and enrichment programmes for teachers, students and parents. Peer support is available in the form of a buddy system for students, and there are regular one-on-one teacher-student sessions so that teachers can check on students’ well-being. There are about 270 teachers across the six full-time madrasahs. MUIS provides a range of training opportunities for madrasah teachers. a. Under the Teachers Development Capitation Grant, every full-time madrasah teacher receives a $1,000 training grant per annum to undertake relevant training programmes. This is complemented by the centrally coordinated MUIS-led Teacher Development Programmes, which sets out a training plan for madrasah teachers. b.”
“In particular for school-based SCCs, schools also exercise close oversight of SCC operations to ensure that quality is maintained, and work closely with the SCC operators to ensure alignment between the programmes in the SCC and the students’ educational experience in school. For example, the SCC staff work closely with the school to plan and deliver programmes that promote the holistic development of students, reinforce values taught by the school, and promote positive social interaction. For students with greater needs enrolled in school-based SCCs, schools also work with community partners and the SCC operators to further strengthen motivational support and resilience through meaningful programmes.”
“Student Care Centres (SCCs) that wish to administer the Student Care Fee Assistance (SCFA) scheme are required to register with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF). There are more than 400 SCCs registered with MSF, including school-based SCCs in all 185 primary schools. Together, these registered SCCs located in schools and the community have enrolled around 32,000 students, with sufficient capacity to meet demand. MSF requires all registered SCCs, including centres operated by private entities, to meet stipulated standards. These include standards on a clean and safe physical environment with appropriately sized activity areas, good safety, health and hygiene practices, proper supervision of students, and a structured daily programme that supports learning and development. For example, SCC premises should have at least three square metres of space per student, and at least one SCC staff who is trained in first aid should be present at all times during opening hours. MSF conducts audits on registered SCCs, which may include surprise checks, at least once every two years to ensure compliance with stipulated standards. More frequent checks may be conducted as needed, for example to look into feedback and complaints received, and where the SCC has weaknesses identified in previous audits. In addition to these stipulated standards for registered SCCs, MSF provides operational guidelines to all SCCs which span domains such as programme planning, physical infrastructure and centre administration. We encourage centres to work closely with schools to develop programmes that would better meet students' needs.”
“Employees with a Singapore Citizen child below seven years of age are entitled to six days of Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL) per year. The first three days are employer-paid and the Government reimburses employers for the next three days. To avoid excessive burden on employees and employers, we do not require them to submit more data than is necessary for us to ascertain their eligibility for leave. Employers are also not required to track whether their employees take child care leave for differently-abled children. The data requested is therefore not available. Data analysis is important to help us understand the needs of all working parents, and we continue to refine our methods to gather more accurate and complete data for policy purposes. Nonetheless, we have to balance this against mandating excessive data submission from working parents and employers. There is also risk of being intrusive should employees be asked if their leave is being consumed to care for a differently-abled child. We currently have no plans to collect information above and beyond what is necessary to efficiently process claims. We recognise that parents of differently abled children may have more caregiving responsibilities. We will continue to study the needs of all working parents, including those with children with special needs, so as to better support them in their parenting journey.”
“MSF, MND and HDB have been partnering many community groups under the Partners Engaging and Empowering Rough Sleepers (PEERS) Network. The network aims to engage, befriend and assist rough sleepers. Since May 2019, 1200 individuals have been engaged through outreach walks, and through referrals made to the PEERS Office in MSF. Of the 1200 persons engaged, all are assisted by appropriate help agencies. These include Family Service Centres for social work support and Social Service Offices for financial assistance. 251 of them have moved on to longer-term housing. The rest are in S3Ps, or other forms of shelter arrangement such as Transitional Shelters. Out of the 251 individuals, 142 of them have moved into HDB’s Public Rental Housing. The rest have either returned home, moved into family members’ homes or to alternative accommodation arranged by their employers. While some individuals have moved into public rental housing, there are some who are not eligible for public rental at the outset, as they may own property, have family members who can house them, or do not meet the citizenship criterion. HDB works with partners of the PEERS Network to assess the circumstances of each case and will exercise flexibility if the individual has no other housing options.”
“Since 2017, MUIS has also made the ARS mandatory for all asatizah who wish to teach, so the public can be confident that recognised asatizah have the requisite religious knowledge. In order to qualify under the ARS, asatizah must not teach or publicly expound any doctrine or perform any ceremony or act relating to the Muslim religion in a manner contrary to Muslim law. All ARS asatizah are also required to regularly upgrade and update their religious knowledge, and their suitability for accreditation is periodically reviewed. If they are unfit to be asatizah, such as if they breach the Code of Ethics, their ARS status will be suspended or cancelled. Therefore, Muslims should seek religious guidance only from ARS-recognised asatizah; the list of which can also be found on the MUIS website (https://www.muis.gov.sg/ARS-and-IECP/ARS/ARS-certified-Teachers).”
“It is critical that we do not allow false doctrines to be propagated within our community, especially if they threaten our socio-religious peace and harmony, and our way of life in Singapore. In the last 10 years, MUIS has received five complaints about individuals allegedly promulgating false doctrines. Any purported evidence of deviant teaching received by MUIS is presented to the Fatwa Committee to assess whether the allegations of false doctrine are true. MUIS and the Fatwa Committee investigated and addressed all of the complaints through the combination of issuing fatwas, counselling, and public education. We ensure that such false doctrines do not take root in our community, through a number of ways. Section 139 of the Administration of Muslim Law Act imposes criminal sanctions on those who promulgate false doctrines. However, any attempt to apply legislation to religious matters must be carefully considered. As this is a religious matter, the Office of the Mufti and the Fatwa Committee are first consulted in dealing with such matters. Thus far, the religious authorities have advised that other approaches be adopted first, such as beginning with counselling, depending on the severity of the situation. If the perpetrators responsible for sharing false doctrines are registered under Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS), the Asatizah Recognition Board may cancel their ARS recognition. The Office of the Mufti will continually remind Muslims in Singapore against erroneous teachings and misinformation through Friday sermons as well as coverage in mainstream news (both print, broadcast and digital). MUIS also publishes fatwas on the MUIS' website (https://www.muis.gov.sg/officeofthemufti/Fatwa).”
“For families who remain unable to find preschool places via these channels, they can approach ECDA which will try to facilitate placements as far as possible in centres with vacancies.”
“ECDA closely monitors the current and projected demand for child care across Planning Areas and housing precincts in Singapore, taking into consideration factors such as population size, demographics, enrolment trends, and existing preschool supply. To meet the child care needs of young families, ECDA then works closely with agencies such as HDB, to develop new preschools in tandem with new public housing developments; and URA, to set aside space for preschools in private housing developments through the Government Land Sales programme. Where additional capacity is required to meet demand, ECDA also facilitates the development of preschools in community and commercial premises, as well as in vacant state land. The national supply of infant and child care places has increased significantly by almost 50% since 2015 to 180,000 places, to meet rising demand. Of the new preschool places added, many are in areas with more young families. For example, in the two newer planning areas, Punggol and Sengkang, there has been a 90% increase in the number of infant and child care places since 2015. The Government remains committed to ensuring that every child who needs a preschool place will be able to have one. ECDA will develop another 20,000 new infant and child care places by 2023, mainly in planning areas with upcoming HDB developments for new families. To help parents find a preschool place, in 2019, ECDA launched the Preschool Search Portal (PSP) – an online self-help search portal which allows parents to search for preschools based on proximity, vacancy and quality, and indicate their interest to their preferred preschools. ECDA has also made the PSP accessible via the LifeSG app.”
“Caregivers may be studying in mainstream schools and Institutes of Higher Learning, or IHLs. In schools, teachers and school personnel care about students’ well-being and keep a lookout for those facing challenges. Caregivers who are students may approach their teachers or trained professionals within these education institutions to seek practical and emotional support. In mainstream schools, the refreshed Character and Citizenship Education curriculum, which will be implemented from 2021, will also help students learn to care for their mental well-being, and to know when and how to seek help. The IHLs also have similar curricular and co-curricular mental wellness programmes. Beyond schools, the Youth Mental Well-being Network was formed in February 2020 to involve the wider community. Over 1,000 youths, parents, caregivers, and social sector and mental health professionals have come together to discuss and implement initiatives to enhance youth mental well-being. The areas of interest range from enhancing youths’ emotional resilience to strengthening support among peers, and within the family, workplace and community. This Network is supported by MOH, MOE and MSF, in collaboration with MCCY and NYC. Even as the family remains the main source of support, we, as a society, can do our part by reaching out to caregivers in our midst. It is not easy for youths to juggle their studies and caregiving responsibilities. For those who know of youth caregivers with difficult circumstances, please help to spread the word on relevant schemes, hotlines or approach SSAs for help. Together, we can make Singapore a kinder and more empathetic society, helping and supporting those in need.”
“While we do not have available data on the number of youths who take on caregiving duties for elderly family members, we recognise that there are such individuals who have to juggle multiple demands, including studies and part-time jobs, besides their caregiving responsibilities. The emotional, mental and physical toll on caregivers of any age is often heavy, and we encourage them to seek support and help if they have difficulty coping. MOH launched the Caregiver Support Action Plan in 2019 to better support caregivers in areas such as care navigation, respite care, financial support, and caregiver empowerment and training. For example, there are more touchpoints for caregivers to readily access information and referral services. The Home Caregiving Grant also provides additional support for long-term caregiving needs in the community. Youth caregivers or their families who need additional financial support may also approach our Social Service Offices. Apart from making respite care services available, the Government is also mindful of caregivers’ emotional needs. The day-to-day demands of caregiving can be very challenging, and the caregiver may face additional stresses if their dependants face adverse health events or pass on. Social Service Agencies such as the Singapore Association for Mental Health, TOUCH Community Services and Fei Yue Community Services provide helplines and counselling services that caregivers can access. Caregivers can also reach out to their local Caregiver Community Outreach Team via the Agency for Integrated Care, for peer support. There are also services that cater to youths, such as Limitless’ Helpline that allows correspondence by phone or text, and Fei Yue’s online counselling service.”
“S3Ps are typically sited in premises of religious organisations and provide safe overnight stays. They complement Transitional Shelters and Senior Group Homes for seniors, which are funded by MSF. At Transitional Shelters, operators provide shelter and onsite social work intervention to homeless persons, with the goal to help them to secure long-term stable housing. There are also housing options in the community such as Senior Group Homes which provide assisted living in public rental flats for frail seniors. MSF and our PEERS partners will continue to strive to ensure the health and well-being of homeless people. If members of the public encounter any homeless people, they can play a part by calling the ComCare hotline at 1800 222 0000, or refer them to the nearest Social Service Office or Family Service Centre for assistance.”
“Homeless persons include people without access to housing as well as rough sleepers who have homes but face difficulty returning for various social reasons such as hoarding, or conflict with family members or co-tenants. Homeless persons often grapple with various issues such as unemployment and conflicts with families. Some may also have health problems. MSF works closely with various community partners and many government agencies through the PEERS Network, which stands for Partners Engaging and Empowering Rough Sleepers Network, to assist them. Together, we actively reach out to, befriend and engage homeless people and support them based on their needs. Those who are willing to seek assistance will be referred to the appropriate help agencies, such as Family Service Centres (FSCs) for social work support to reconcile with family members, and Social Service Offices (SSOs) for financial assistance. At FSCs and SSOs, our officers will refer clients who need medical help to the appropriate healthcare institutions and make arrangements for them to be accompanied to the medical appointments. FSCs and SSOs also work with medical professionals to develop integrated care plans for such clients to receive the necessary medical services and support in the community. Clients who are eligible can receive subsidies for medical services at participating clinics under the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS). Those who face difficulty with their healthcare bills may qualify for MediFund assistance. ComCare clients will receive assistance with their medical bills at polyclinics and restructured hospitals. MSF has also collaborated with our PEERS partners to set up Safe Sound Sleeping Places, or S3Ps, to provide homeless persons with a safe environment to rest for the night.”
“When a stateless person who is not a PR seeks financial assistance, the Social Service Office (SSO) will assess his or her needs, and can exercise flexibility to provide ComCare on a case-by-case basis, particularly if the stateless person is elderly, has been living and working in Singapore for a long time, and is now unable to work and has no family support. If the non-PR stateless person has healthcare needs, such as medical bills or arrears, or educational needs, such as school or examination fees, the SSO would refer them to community partners for assistance. The community plays a key role in helping vulnerable groups, including stateless persons and their families, to improve their well-being.”
“The majority of stateless persons in Singapore are Permanent Residents (PRs), with the rest possessing special passes. For healthcare and education benefits, stateless persons who are PRs would be treated no differently from other PRs. Government subsidies and financial assistance programmes at public healthcare institutions are generally targeted at Singapore Citizens (SCs) and PRs. However, we recognise that stateless persons who are not PRs may also require financial support in certain healthcare settings. For instance, lower-income stateless individuals staying in government-funded nursing homes or disability homes can receive subsidies for their care. Medisave can also be used for immediate family members who are not SCs or PRs, including stateless persons who are not PRs. This would allow SCs or PRs who are the spouses, parents or children of stateless persons to help lessen the out-of-pocket payment required for the medical bills of their stateless family member. For education, admission to mainstream schools and publicly-funded tertiary institutions is subject to students meeting the admissions criteria and availability of places. Stateless students who are Singapore PRs will be charged PR fees, while other stateless students will be charged International Students fees in our schools and tertiary institutions. Government financial assistance schemes for education are for SC students only. However, schools and tertiary institutions have tapped on non-government resources, including donations, to offer some financial assistance to PRs and International Students, including stateless children. ComCare financial assistance is targeted at Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents with family ties to Singaporeans.”
“For children under specific programmes like the Learning Support, Development Support or Development Support Plus programmes, EI professionals visit the pre-schools to conduct intervention sessions for children within the centres. EI centres also assist pre-schools by sharing with them strategies on how pre-school teachers can better support these children in the classroom. We are currently studying ways to better support children with moderate to severe developmental needs within pre-schools, under the work of the Inclusive Preschool Workgroup.”
“The current average waiting time for enrolment in an early intervention (EI) centre for the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) is approximately six months. The waiting time in part depends on parents' preferences for specific providers or locations. We are working on expanding the number of EIPIC places over the next few years, which will help bring down the waiting time. We are also rolling out the Development Support Plus programme so that children who have made sufficient progress in EIPIC can transit to receiving EI services in their pre-schools. This will enable more children requiring EIPIC to be served. Under EIPIC, the teacher to child ratios can vary based on the needs of each child. For children with higher needs, support can be delivered in a one-to-one setting while children with higher functioning could be placed in groups averaging six to eight children. Typically, each group is led by an EI teacher, with at least another EI professional (such as a therapist, psychologist or assistant EI teacher) assisting him/her. Under the Early Childhood Development Agency's (ECDA) regulations, pre-schools, including those that enrol children with developmental needs, are required to adhere to minimum staff-child ratios for the different age groups. These ratios range from one infant educarer to five infants for infant care, to one early childhood teacher to 25 children for a kindergarten 2 class. Pre-schools may choose to deploy more staff to support classes with children with developmental needs if preferred. Pre-schools also receive support from EI professionals.”
“SSAs also provide a suite of services ranging from counselling to caregiver training to respite services for caregivers. The aim is to stabilise the family environment and restore the relationships between the seniors and their families and caregivers. In addition, MSF encourages Singaporeans, including seniors, to identify their donees early through a Lasting Power of Attorney. In the event of a loss of mental capacity, donees will be able to help the seniors make decisions about their future care arrangements. Caregivers, seniors, and persons in need of someone to talk to about the issues that weigh them down can call the National CARE hotline to receive mental health first aid and the appropriate referrals to social service agencies and public health institutions.”
“As our population ages, some individuals may suffer physical or mental infirmities or disabilities, and may not be able to care for themselves. MSF’s Adult Protective Service (APS) was established in May 2015 to protect vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect or self-neglect, such as when their families are unable to provide for their safety and well-being. APS partners social service agencies (SSAs) such as Family Violence Specialist Centres and Family Service Centres, as well as hospitals, the Police and the Courts to protect vulnerable adults. The Vulnerable Adults Act (VAA) came into effect in December 2018, and provides powers for APS to intervene when a vulnerable adult is assessed to face high safety risk. For example, the VAA allows APS to apply to the Court to place the vulnerable adult in the care of a relative or a suitable fit person, or in a Place of Safety that is operated by an SSA. Since its establishment until September 2020, APS has investigated 484 cases involving seniors aged 65 and above. About 98% of the cases were resolved with support from the seniors’ families and SSAs. The remaining seniors were assisted through Court orders, such as being cared for in a Place of Safety. MSF believes that whenever circumstances permit, it is more beneficial for our seniors to be cared for by family members. At the same time, MSF recognises that caregivers may be under stress and encourages them to seek help early. The Government has various financial schemes, such as the Home Caregiving Grant to defray the cost of engaging community caregiving services, and the Caregiver Training Grant for caregivers to learn to better care for their loved ones.”
“The COVID-19 Support Grant (CSG) provides assistance and job support to Singaporean & Permanent Resident (PR) employees who have lost their jobs, been involuntarily placed on No-Pay Leave (NPL), or experienced significant loss of salary due to the economic impact of COVID-19. Since the scheme was launched in May 2020, we have received over 180,000 CSG applications, 96% of which were submitted online. Applications for CSG will remain open until December 2020. The online portal is open every day, including weekends and public holidays, to allow Singaporeans sufficient time and opportunity to apply for assistance. Our assessment is that this has been adequate to meet the needs of most applicants. Prior to launch, we had considered the possibility of longer operating hours each day, but we eventually decided on daily operating hours of 9am to 6pm, taking into account the need to allow sufficient time each day to closely monitor system performance, perform system maintenance and updates, and troubleshoot problems in a timely fashion to minimise any unplanned downtime and to ensure that applicants would receive a sustainable and reliable level of service. We will continue to monitor the availability and level of service of the online portal, taking into account user feedback.”
“At present, caregivers ferrying persons with disabilities get a 10-minute grace period when they enter HDB and URA car parks, similar to other drivers. Thereafter, prevailing parking charges apply. We support those ferrying persons with disabilities through the carpark label scheme administered by SG Enable. The car park label scheme allows caregivers ferrying persons with disabilities to use an accessible parking lot for up to one hour, sufficient time for them to help persons with disabilities board and alight safely from their vehicles. Private transport operators who serve persons with disabilities can also benefit from scheme.”
“We have provided CSG to appellants on this basis. Family members or relatives in other households who are in need may also apply in their own right to be assessed for support grants or ComCare. We encourage families with extenuating circumstances to approach our Social Service Offices, which will look into ways to support them together with community partners. MSF will continue to review our social assistance schemes regularly and take into account the changing needs of the vulnerable groups.”
“In light of the adverse economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has introduced support measures to protect workers and save jobs. These include the Jobs Support Scheme to stabilise our economy and stem unemployment; the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package to help Singaporeans access job opportunities and pick up skills and capabilities; and the Jobs Growth Incentive to support employers to accelerate their hiring of local workforce. The Government has also provided temporary financial support to affected workers through the Temporary Relief Fund, the COVID-19 Support Grant, and the Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme. In designing support schemes, government agencies adopt criteria such as the household per capita income (PCI) or gross household income as proxies of a household’s financial resources and ability to tide through challenging periods. This is to allow us to channel support to those who need it more. For example, applicants to the COVID-19 Support Grant (CSG) may qualify for CSG if they meet either the household income or per capita household income criteria. For large households with higher expenses, PCI is often more meaningful to allow these households to qualify. Household income criteria is typically based on residential address as household members living together would likely be sharing resources. For those who miss the qualifying criteria, MSF exercises flexibility when considering appeals for support schemes such as the CSG, taking into consideration the needs and circumstances of the family. For example, when assessing appeals for the CSG, we consider the challenges of sandwiched families who have to support young children, as well as elderly parents who may not be staying with them.”
“Depending on the severity of their development needs, children may be referred to the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) or to KKH's Department of Child Development or NUH's Child Development Unit for therapy services.”
“The Development Support (DS) and Learning Support (LS) programme provides support to children with mild development needs within the preschools. The DS-LS programme is currently offered in 550 preschools which enrol about 40% of preschoolers aged five to six, up from about 300 preschools in 2015. About 60% of preschoolers are enrolled in preschools which currently do not offer the DS-LS programme. The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) is working closely with preschool operators to make the DS-LS programme available at more preschools. ECDA is working closely with the regional DS-LS providers and preschools to expand provision of DS-LS to more preschools. ECDA also provides funding to preschools which are prepared to be DS-LS providers themselves, to train their Learning Support Educators and procure therapy services. These preschools are also supported with a Place-and-Train programme to facilitate the training of more in-house Learning Support Educators. For children enrolled in preschools that do not provide the DS-LS programme today, there are channels for parents, healthcare professionals or preschools to flag out children with developmental needs for support. If a preschool identifies an enrolled child who may have developmental needs, they can contact the regional DS-LS providers for assistance to screen the child for early intervention support. During regular medical screenings and check-ups, healthcare professionals in the polyclinics, paediatricians and General Practitioners (GP) may also detect delays in the child's development. In such cases, they will refer the child to the Child Development Programme in KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) or National University Hospital (NUH) for diagnosis of developmental needs.”
“EI centres also provide caregiver engagement and training under the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC), so that they are equipped with the skills and knowledge to support their children at home.”