Commenting on the reduction of childcare fees, SMU Assistant Professor of Sociology (Education) George Wong said that the reduction was a “substantial commitment” and a positive step, but agreed that decisions about parenthood are more complicated than cost alone. Asst Prof Wong pointed to three broad considerations that parents weigh: financial and material costs, including childbirth; the time and energy required; and everyday considerations such as housing space. He said that Singaporeans are also increasingly making “practical calculations” about having children, viewing parenthood as a lifestyle choice. He added that younger couples today no longer see children as a form of social insurance, as many are already planning for retirement and taking responsibility for their own financial security. Asst Prof Wong said addressing Singapore’s low fertility rate therefore cannot fall on the Government alone and has to be a “whole society thing”. He suggested that universities could hold workshops on parenthood, encouraging youths to think earlier about having children and their future.
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