Educators warn longer childcare hours could worsen manpower shortages and burnout
A proposal in Singapore’s Parliament to extend preschool operating hours to 7.30pm has sparked strong reactions from educators, many of whom say the idea overlooks the welfare of teachers already facing long workdays.
Proposal Raised in Parliament
Workers’ Party Member of Parliament Gerald Giam suggested extending preschool care hours until 7.30pm daily to help working parents manage pickup times. Speaking in Parliament on Feb. 26, he highlighted the logistical challenges faced by parents who finish work around 6pm in the Central Business District and must travel back to heartland estates.
Giam proposed that at least one preschool in every HDB estate offer extended care hours, possibly staffed by ancillary care assistants so that the workload of core educators would not increase.
Government Response and Operational Challenges
Minister of State for Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming acknowledged that working parents face real difficulties balancing jobs and childcare. However, he pointed out that extending operating hours would require additional staffing, resources, and funding.
Goh also noted that the number of preschools offering care beyond 7pm has already declined from 40 centres in 2021 to 20 today, partly due to manpower constraints within the early childhood sector.
Educators Speak Out Online
Following the parliamentary debate, several preschool educators posted videos online expressing concern about the proposal. One TikTok video by educator Erma Othman drew more than 217,000 views and hundreds of comments.
In the video, she questioned whether policymakers considered that many preschool teachers are parents themselves. She explained that after spending long days caring for other children, educators often have limited time with their own families.
Concerns Over Work-Life Balance
Erma said that preschool teachers already spend about 10 hours a day at work, leaving little time for personal life or family responsibilities. On some days, she added, she has less than two hours to spend with her own children.
Instead of extending childcare hours, she suggested increasing childcare and family care leave for parents or encouraging companies to end work earlier, such as at 5.30pm.
Industry Voices Warn of Burnout
Another educator posting under the handle sunnysideup_sg argued that the early childhood sector has been quietly struggling with teacher retention. Longer hours, she said, would not necessarily improve childcare quality.
According to her, extended operating hours could result in exhausted children and even more exhausted educators, potentially accelerating the departure of experienced teachers from the industry.
The debate highlights a delicate balance between supporting working parents and safeguarding the well-being of preschool educators. As Singapore continues to adapt to changing work patterns and family needs, solutions may require collaboration between employers, schools, and policymakers to ensure that childcare support does not come at the expense of teacher welfare or education quality.
Sources: Asia One (2026) , Stomp (2026)
Keywords: Gerald Giam Proposal, Preschool Operating Hours, ECDA Singapore, Early Childhood Educators, Childcare Policy Singapore
