National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) First Campus Co-operative and Lien Foundation have collaborated to build the new My First Skool @ Braddell Heights Community in Serangoon to raise children's education to a higher level.
The $6 million project, which integrates technology, in-depth research and state of the art design, also marks the first time a social enterprise and a philanthropic organisation are working together.
First Campus Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Chan Tee Seng revealed that Serangoon was chosen based on the strong demand from young families and its larger space to accommodate the new space and design requirements.
'I think it is only by addressing the needs of the parents, children and the teachers that we will be able to engage these three groups of stakeholders to engage in an effective partnership to bring about a more successful pre-school programme for the children,' Mr Chan added.
Among the innovative features of the My First Skool include an indoor courtyard for art and water play that can be converted into an events stage.
The Centre will also house three studios, My First Imagination, My First Invention and My First Ensemble - for specialised play, creative play and music making.
Tablet computers would also serve as teaching tools while the overall use of technology will be incorporated in several resource rooms for parent-teacher discussions and planning.
Academic Director of SEED Institute, NTUC's early childhood training centre Ms Ho Yin Fong lauds the courtyard as a venue for a play-based environment.
The Centre, opening in December this year, will accommodate 200 children and 16 infants with fees being set at $630, below the national median average of $740.
The facility's new design elements will be incorporated into 50 of its upcoming My First Skool centres.
The partnership also includes setting up a second Caterpillar's Cove child development and study centre located in the new Devan Nair Institute for Employment and Employability (e2i) next to SEED Institute.
Teachers undergoing training can use it as a living classroom for observation and research as they complete their practicum.
The $500,000 funding from Lien Foundation would enable the centre to reserve 10 percent of the spaces for low-income families in the next five years.
Original article written by Nicolette Yeo, and can be found in NTUC This Week (27 September 2013)
