Renewal of SJCK lease at 29C Harding Rd
Renewal of SJCK lease at 29C Harding Rd
We would like to express our utmost support for St James Church Kindergarten (Harding). We urge the authorities to take into full consideration the unique and valuable contributions that St James Church Kindergarten (Harding) has made to Singapore, and thereby to grant the renewal of its lease at 29C Harding Road.
St James Church Kindergarten (Harding) is a well loved, local, community school. There is a significant opportunity cost to society of taking away this beloved community school in favour of commercial/ international operators, backed by investment houses or private equity funds with strong financial muscle. We urge SLA and ECDA to cost in the social benefits that this school and site contributes to our nation (and therefore social costs of terminating the school’s lease and causing it to cease operations). Specifically:
1) Enabling a high quality preschool education to be socially inclusive, affordable to average Singapore families, an education for Singaporeans by Singaporeans. Channel News Asia rated St James Church Kindergarten as one of the 10 best local and international preschools in Singapore (1). St James Church Kindergarten is by far the most affordable option on the list, likely the only option accessible to average Singaporeans across diverse backgrounds. The school’s long registration waiting lists is testament to this. The government has a duty to support this social inclusivity, and advance affordable and quality preschool education for Singaporeans. In the past, St James Church Kindergarten (Harding) has extensively searched for alternative sites, but “were unsuitable because they did not meet size requirements or have outdoor spaces”. The site is thereby integral to the school’s offering (2).
2) Adding diversity to the preschool landscape as a faith-based preschool. Diversity is central to our national DNA. “To lose the faith-based group is a great pity, as we have a contribution to make as part of the early childhood community in Singapore. Our strength is in character and values development… about half of the families whose children attend St James' pre-schools are not Christians, but they want their children to be in an environment that strongly emphasises the development of character and values” (Straits Times, 3 Dec 2018). Faith-based preschools like St James Church Kindergarten inculcate strong and enduring character and moral values at an impressionable age, with teachers leading by example. These non-monetary socio-economic benefit has a positive multiplier effect on society.
3) A source of community bonds and shared memories, an integral part of our social fabric and resilience. St James Church Kindergarten is unique in its approach to nurture community building across families in the school since its establishment in 1977. Notwithstanding the expansion via the Little Seeds branding, generations of children and families, have forged friendships and shared memories at this very site. Such shared heritage is invaluable, and integral to social resilience, captured in a physical site. The cosy setting embraces a “kampung spirit” evident in how principals and teachers know every child by name. As PM Lee exhorted, For our plans to succeed, for our hopes and dreams to come true, we need one final ingredient: the unity and resilience of our people." (National Day Rally 2020).
4) A leader and supporter of our local preschool landscape, supporting other preschools and families alike. St James Church Kindergarten (Harding) has been the site of a diverse range of events, ranging from training events for preschool educators to cutting edge social initiatives, e.g., Make Every Preschool Inclusive (MEPI). It has also hosted various family centric events, ranging from its annual School Carnival, where families have traditionally brought friends and family too, to parenting and preschool academics workshops. Should the site cease operations, such events and programs may lack a fit-for-purpose venue, which would be a tremendous loss to society.
5) SJCK will have a far higher enrolment of Singaporean children compared to the other competitiors (AM and PM sessions, larger class sizes), so the sheer quantity of Singaporean children who can benefit from the beautiful outdoor space and grounds will be significantly higher. Inclusivity is not just through affordability but the number of children with access to such a space. May SLA and ECDA make this space inclusive and accessible to as many Singaporean children as possible.
Ultimately, St James Church Kindergarten (Harding) is a not-for-profit kindergarten. This means that the benefits it accrues from lower rental fees are directly passed on to Singaporeans from all walks of life, in terms of more affordable school fees. Consequently, the successful renewal of its lease will keep one of the top preschools in Singapore open, supporting inclusivity, diversity, social resilience and the quality of Singaporean preschools. More significantly, it will signal the government’s efforts to advance affordable and quality preschool education to Singaporeans from all walks of life.