GreenSn0w

SINGAPORE: The PAP Community Foundation, Singapore's largest kindergarten chain, will absorb the 2 percentage point GST increase for all its services from July till the end of the year.

It will also freeze all fees for 12 months.

The Chairman of its Management Council, Mr Teo Chee Hean, announced this at a sports event on Sunday.

The moves will benefit some 50,000 children aged between 18 months and 14 years.

Apart from kindergartens, PCF also offers childcare, infant care and student care services. Fees for these services vary between different centres.

PCF says it wants to give the appropriate assistance to families who cannot cope financially.

The latest initiative to help parents cope follows a similar move at the last round of GST increases.

The Foundation estimates the latest move will cost it some $772,000.

"We are working for example with MCYS in their scheme to make sure that all the kids are able to go to kindergarten, and if any of the parents have difficulties, do approach their Members of Parliament, advisers to the grassroots, and we'll do our best to help," said Mr Teo, who is also the Defence Minister.

He was speaking at a sports event where Singapore's youngest eco-warriors reused, reduced and recycled their way to victory.

Over 650 kindergarten children from Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC's PAP Community Foundation turned rubbish collectors for the day, with one aim in mind.

"Reduce, reuse, recycle!" exclaimed pre-schooler Nicholas Gan.

PCF says that after December, its branches will separately decide if they will continue to absorb the GST increase.