Why We Started
EveryChild.SG began with a simple but urgent question: Are we giving all children in Singapore the education and support they need to thrive?
Our founder, Pooja Bhandari, was confronted with this reality when her own children struggled in the local primary school system, eventually leading her to transfer them to international schools. The stark differences in class sizes, teaching approaches, support systems, and overall well-being of students were eye-opening. International schools provided smaller class sizes, personalised learning, well-trained support professionals, and a focus on both academic and emotional development – elements that had a profound impact on her children’s confidence and growth.
Beyond her personal experience, Pooja recognised a broader issue: why was a high-quality, developmentally supportive education only accessible to those who could afford private alternatives? As a then-civil servant, she found it unacceptable that in a developed nation with the resources to offer a world-class education to all its children, access to such an environment remained unequal.
Determined to better understand the gaps, she researched, spoke with experts and parents, and ultimately authored EveryChild.SG’s white paper on updating Singapore’s primary school education system. This work identified three key systemic challenges holding children back, and the three most critical developmental outcomes at stake.
Forward Plans
While academic pressure remains a significant challenge, it is just one piece of a bigger picture – parenting, caregiving, public policies, and how society as a whole treats children, all shape their future.
The real challenge is broader: Singapore needs to prioritise the nurturing and holistic development of its children as a national goal. This is not something that can be addressed by any one group alone – whether policymakers, schools, parents, social service agencies, or the mental health system. It requires collective effort and collaboration.
Recognising this, EveryChild.SG is expanding its focus beyond education to include a wider range of issues impacting children’s well-being and holistic development, guided by research, evidence, and best practices. Our goal remains the same – to ensure that every child in Singapore is nurtured, respected, and supported to thrive.
Milestones
