Forum: Managing school closure days remains a challenge for parents

As a working parent of three primary school-going children, I am grateful for the many ways Singapore supports families.

That said, many parents, including myself, face challenges managing school closure days that fall outside official public holidays with our limited parental leave entitlement.

Each year, schools close for days such as on Youth Day, Teachers’ Day, Children’s Day, the day after National Day, and PSLE marking days, which last for four days.

In addition, there are occasional early dismissals and home-based learning days, where students stay home and often require parental supervision, especially for younger children.

These can easily add up to seven or more working days a year, not counting regular school breaks.

Currently, working parents receive only two days of extended childcare leave annually when the youngest child is between seven and 12 years old. This often falls short in meeting caregiving needs. Many parents cope by using annual leave or relying on family support, but this can be difficult for those with multiple children or limited help at home.

Perhaps the relevant ministries can consider reviewing ways to better support parents. These could include increasing childcare leave and looking at ways to limit school closure days that require parental supervision.

Such thoughtful adjustments would help working parents manage their responsibilities at home and at work, making it easier to raise families in Singapore while balancing career commitments.

Low Wen Wei