We thank Ms Josephine Lim Teo Hwee for her letter (‘Small, private preschools add diversity to early childhood landscape here', 25 Nov 2025).
We recognise that parents appreciate having diversity and choice of preschool programmes and pedagogical approaches for their children. Besides smaller, private preschools offering niche programmes that meet specific preferences and needs of parents, parents can also choose from a range of preschool programmes available across preschools run by Social Service Agencies as well as private preschools that operate under the Anchor Operator (AOP) and Partner Operator (POP) schemes.
To ensure that families have access to affordable and quality preschools, preschools that meet the criteria and requirements of the AOP and POP schemes receive government funding to keep preschool fees affordable for parents. To maintain high standards of quality in AOPs and POPs, a rigorous selection process has been put in place, which considers factors such as the preschools’ track record in providing quality childcare services, financial sustainability, accessibility, and demand. Only preschools that meet these requirements are appointed to the scheme.
Preschools that did not qualify for the AOP or POP schemes also continue to benefit from the Early Childhood and Development Agency (ECDA)’s other sector-wide initiatives and schemes. For example, through the Professional Development Programme and grants, preschools are supported to upskill their educators, and to improve productivity through technology solutions. These initiatives and resources on quality enhancement in the early childhood sector are available to all operators.
Ms Agnes Lim
Director, Family and Early Childhood Division
Ministry of Social and Family Development