2024年9月9日，新加坡社會及家庭發展部長馬善高在國會答覆三巴旺集選區議員林偉傑醫生有關過去一年獨居老人在家去世的統計數據。
以下內容為新加坡眼根據國會英文資料翻譯整理：
林偉傑醫生（三巴旺集選區議員）詢問社會及家庭發展部長：
(a) 該部是否追蹤獨居老人在家去世的人數，這些老人的離世通常要幾天後才被發現？
(b) 如果有，過去一年中這類案例的數量是多少？
馬善高（社會及家庭發展部長）先生：社會及家庭發展部沒有追蹤獨居老人在家去世的人數。政府與社區夥伴合作，採取多種措施，以支持獨居老人保持聯繫，並在社區中安享晚年。
首先， 護聯中心（Agency for Integrated Care）下屬的關愛樂齡辦事處（Silver Generation Office，簡稱SGO）會聯繫所有60歲及以上的老年人，以識別有需要的人，並將他們轉介到相關的支持或服務機構進行後續跟進。
其次，需要社會支持的老年人將與活躍樂齡站（AAC）建立聯繫，獲得交友和夥伴服務，並定期接受檢查。在活躍樂齡站（AAC），老年人還可以參加活躍樂齡活動計劃，以擴大他們的社交網絡。除了活躍樂齡站（AAC），關愛樂齡辦事處（SGO）還協助有興趣的老年人報名參加人民協會 (PA) 在社區中心和居民聯繫網絡中心（Residents』 Network Centres）提供的活動。來自人民協會和基層組織的志願者也會主動接觸需要幫助和陪伴的老年人。
第三，國家發展部和建屋發展局還通過警報系統為獨居老年人提供支持，他們可以在緊急情況下在小型公寓（Studio Apartment）和租賃組屋內（rental blocks）呼救。
除了這些努力之外，我們每個人作為鄰居也應發揮重要作用，關心彼此，支持老年人與社會保持聯繫並安享晚年。政府將繼續與社區夥伴和機構合作，為老年人提供支持。
以下是英文質詢內容：
Ms Mariam Jaafar asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Government will consider making kindergarten education compulsory; and (b) if so, what will be the factors taken into consideration for it to be integrated into the formal education system.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: To enable our children to have a good start, the Government has invested significantly in preschool education over the last decade. Preschool enrolment has also grown and 95% of Singaporean children aged five to six years are now enrolled in preschool. There are sufficient places for every child.
Rather than impose compulsory kindergarten education, the Government’s approach has been to remove impediments to preschool enrolment by ensuring access to affordable and quality preschools, such as in Government-supported preschools. Today, over 65% of preschoolers are in Government-supported preschools, up from just over half in 2019. We will continue to increase spaces so that 80% of preschoolers can have a place in a Government-supported preschool by around 2025.
We also provide targeted assistance to lower-income families to address practical challenges in enrolling their children in preschool and ensuring their regular attendance. Children from lower-income families are accorded priority when enrolling in MOE Kindergartens (MKs) and Anchor Operator (AOP) preschools. After Government subsidies, low-income families may pay as low as $1 per month for half-day kindergarten in MKs and AOP preschools.
As kindergarten education is affordable and accessible to all Singaporeans, we have no plans to make it compulsory at the moment.
HQ丨編輯
HQ丨編審
新加坡國會丨來源
