NTUC Childcare will also be spending $1.5 million more a year to raise the salaries of teachers and train them. -- ST PHOTO: ASHLEIGH SIM
SINGAPORE's biggest childcare operator NTUC Childcare will build 25 more centres in the next 12 to 18 months, increasing the number of its centres to 75.
The group will also be spending $1.5 million more a year to raise the salaries of teachers and train them.
NTUC Childcare group renamed
NTUC Childcare group has been renamed NTUC First Campus to better reflect the range of services it provides. 'In the past three decades, NTUC Childcare has evolved its range of services from childcare to teacher training and child development research. The new name reflects these changes,' said group CEO Chan Tee Seng.
Besides running childcare centres, it also has a training arm Regional Training and Resource Centre in Early Childhood Care and Education for Asia and child study centre The Caterpillar's Cove.
These plans are in line with the Government's goal to build 200 new childcare centres by 2013 to increase accessibilty to these services and raise the standards of pre-school education sector.
The childcare group CEO Chan Tee Seng on Wednesday unveiled new plans, including a name change to NTUC First Campus.
He said: 'In the past three decades, NTUC Childcare has evolved its range of services from childcare to teacher training and child development research. The new name reflects these changes.'
The group has 40 centres which operate under the NTUC Childcare name and are located mostly in HDB void decks. These will now be known as My First Skool centres. Another 17 such centres will be built.
NTUC also has another 10 centres operating under the Little Skool-House International name and they are found in community clubs, work places and bungalows.
Another eight will be added. This will provide an additional 2,500 childcare places to the current 5,500 which the group offer now.
In line with the expansion plans, another 350 teachers will be added to NTUC My First Campus' pay rolls over the next 12 to 18 months. Currently, 511 teachers are employed.
