All student care centres interested in being SCFA administrators should register with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF). Once approved, they are expected to reserve at least 10 slots for kids eligible for subsidies for student care fees. Once enrolled, the process is seamless. Parents know the afterschool care cost minus the subsidy.
So, what happens when parents decide to transfer their child to another student care centre? Do they forfeit the SCFA or is it transferable to another student care centre?
Notice of Withdrawal
SCFA is an agreement between MSF and the student care centres. If a parent chooses to withdraw the child from the centre, the student care centre (SCC) informs MSF of the withdrawal. If the student has unused subsidy from the student care fees, the student care centre will reimburse MSF.
However, parents are expected to give notice of transfer at least a month before withdrawing the child from the student care centre. During this period, the student care centre will alert MSF of the withdrawal. They will also calculate the child’s attendance, especially if the withdrawal date is not on the last day of the month.
The student care centre then reimburses MSF subsidies for student care centre fees already released. If the child completes afterschool care cost during the one-month notice, the parent can move on to the next student care centre and apply for SCFA.
Effect of Absenteeism of SCFA
MSF is strict on attendance for students who qualify for SCFA. When student care centre fees are released, MSF wants to confirm they get value for money. Hundreds of students apply for SCFA, but only a few get it. If a child is constantly absent, MSF would rather replace that child with another who cannot afford the current primary school student care fees.
Student Care Centres are expected to follow up on absenteeism and establish the reasons for it. Is the child unwell or have the parents found an alternative? Under normal circumstances, students are expected to meet the 50% attendance threshold for all the months the student care centre operates. In June and December, attendance of at least 30% is expected.
Kids who continuously fail to meet the minimum attendance requirements risk losing their SCFA, and parents will be forced to cover the afterschool care cost without support.
Valid Reasons for Absenteeism at The Student Care Centre
Absenteeism is inevitable, especially for young kids, even for families that pay primary school student care fees without help from MSF. So, parents requesting subsidies don’t need to worry about losing support when their child misses afterschool care because there are acceptable reasons. They include:
- Illness: The parent should present a valid medical certificate.
- School activities: If the students have school activities extending to when the kids are usually at the student care centre. They include co-curricular activities, sports tournaments, and supplementary classes.
- Enrichment classes: Students can miss classes at the student care centre If a voluntary welfare organisation (VWO), in conjunction with the school, organises enrichment classes.
Parents need to know if they can get assistance with fees on student care centres in Singapore and what they should do to keep it. Since changes occur, including parents changing student care centres, SCAF is designed to last a short time, usually 6 months. When this time elapses, the student care centre applies for another period of afterschool care cost support, as long as the child is eligible.
