
According to the 2020 population census, 53% of Singapore households are dual-income. Most of these households and single-parent families rely on student care centres to provide a safe place for the kids to stay after school until the parents get off work. However, over the years, afterschool programs have moved beyond supervision.
Academic Support
Academic support is one of the student care services that lures most parents. Professional tutors are available to help students with their homework and help them overcome the challenges they face in class. So, parents benefit from having a safe place for their kids to stay for a few hours while they get academic support. This gives them peace of mind and allows them to keep working until they can pick them up.
Student Care Options
The Ministry of Education introduced school-based student care centres to support working parents whose children leave school early. However, this setup has some challenges. For example, parents who leave work late do not have the option of late pickups since there are strict pickup times.
School-based afterschool programs also use the school’s facilities and personnel. Parents interested in unique enrichment classes may not get these student care services. These limitations gave rise to community-based and private student care centres. Parents needing unique services or specialised care can also use a dedicated student care centre.
Instil Independence & Responsibility in Kids
Student care centres have structured afterschool programs to boost independence and instill responsibility in kids. The students learn how to manage time through games and different tasks. These are very helpful in training students to use their time correctly, especially in their assignments, exams, and other tasks.
Kids also take responsibility for their actions, both good and bad. They also learn to appreciate their efforts, especially in tasks with desired outcomes. A good, dedicated student care centre helps children navigate challenges, gain confidence, and adapt easily to their environment and situations.
Parents can easily tell if afterschool programs are helpful based on the changes they see in their children. Fortunately, most school care centres understand what parents expect and are rated based on their impact on the kids.
Alignment With School Curriculum
Student care centres have also aligned with the school curriculum to ensure students get the best possible outcome, especially when preparing for exams. For continuity, afterschool programs are designed to ensure students get additional help with what they learn in school. This helps students get personalised help with what they learn in school and read ahead.
Exam preparation is also essential to afterschool programs, especially for candidates. A dedicated student care centre that aligns its program with the academic curriculum also indirectly supports schools. Teachers have an easier time educating students and go through the curriculum faster when students have support from different stakeholders.
The demand for student care centres continues to rise, with over 18,000 primary school students enrolled. Most are designed to meet student needs. Private student care centres offer more flexibility for parents who require weekend and holiday support.
The afterschool programs also accommodate parents who need students to check in earlier or leave later. These transformations are also behind the success of student care services.





