PCF Sparkletots doubles staff development spending to S$20 million over three years
PCF Sparkletots will double its spending on staff development to S$20 million over the next three years. The preschool operator also announced initiatives to reduce teachers' administrative workload and introduce a checklist for supporting children with diverse learning needs.
SINGAPORE: PCF Sparkletots, the country's largest preschool operator, will double its spending on staff development to S$20 million over the next three years. The announcement was made on Sunday (11 Oct) at a family day event at Mandai Wildlife Reserve, held to mark the 40th anniversary of the PAP Community Foundation, which runs about 350 Sparkletots preschools serving more than 40,000 children daily.
The S$20 million investment is double the amount spent over the previous three years and will support about 8,000 educators and 500 preschool leaders, PCF said in a press release. It will fund three roadmaps covering professional development, leadership development and digital literacy. These aim to give staff greater clarity on their roles and career pathways, strengthen leadership skills and help them use technology meaningfully and responsibly.
PCF will also introduce an enhanced centralised model to reduce teachers' administrative workload. Under the model, parents with ad hoc requests, such as enquiries about buying school uniforms, can deal directly with designated personnel instead of teachers. Preschool centre principals, who typically coordinate grocery delivery schedules with the kitchen, can direct all scheduling matters to a designated person for more efficient coordination.
Educators will separately receive a recommended checklist of classroom practices covering areas such as managing children's behaviour and helping them regulate their emotions. 'These practical, everyday approaches can help educators understand children better, reduce dysregulated behaviours and support engagement,' PCF said. When applied consistently, the practices can contribute to calmer and more inclusive classrooms.
PCF previously announced plans to offer three mother tongue languages – Chinese, Malay and Tamil – at all its preschools. On Sunday, it said the rollout will begin in January 2027 at preschools where there is demand.
PCF, a charitable foundation established by the People's Action Party, also provides eldercare services through Sparkle Care. Sparkle Care is expanding its network of eldercare centres towards a target of 25 by 2027. By the end of next year, the daily capacity of its senior care centres for rehabilitation and day care is expected to rise by 112 per cent. Its Active Ageing Centres will serve an assigned population of more than 30,000 seniors. As part of the expansion, Sparkle Care will open new senior care centres in Kaki Bukit and Teck Ghee, along with an Active Ageing Centre in Punggol. It will also open its first Active Ageing Centre (Care) at Serangoon Polyclinic in the first half of 2027, in partnership with the Home Nursing Foundation. The centre, spanning more than 20,000 square feet, will offer seniors in the area greater access to care and wellness services.
