The Radical Move That Challenges Our Notions of Education: Why One Preschool Slashed Fees by 50%
When I first heard about Kindle Garden, Singapore’s first inclusive preschool, cutting its fees by 50%, my initial reaction was surprise. In an era where inflation is squeezing budgets and institutions are scrambling to stay afloat, this move feels almost counterintuitive. But as I dug deeper, I realized this isn’t just a financial decision—it’s a bold statement about what education should prioritize.
The Numbers vs. The Mission
Let’s start with the facts: Kindle Garden, which caters to both neurotypical children and those with special needs, reduced its monthly fees from up to $1,800 to a capped $900. This comes at a time when enrollment has dropped from 70 to 50 children, and the preschool operated at a deficit in the 2024/2025 financial year. From a purely business perspective, this seems like a risky move. But here’s the thing: Kindle Garden isn’t a business. As J.R. Karthikeyan, the CEO of AWWA (the agency running the preschool), aptly put it, “It’s a public service, it’s not business.”
What makes this particularly fascinating is the underlying philosophy. The fee cut isn’t about boosting profits; it’s about expanding access. By lowering fees, the preschool aims to attract more neurotypical children, which in turn allows them to admit more children with disabilities. This 70:30 ratio of neurotypical to special needs children is crucial—it ensures an inclusive environment where all kids learn and grow together.
The Hidden Value of Inclusion
One thing that immediately stands out is the common misconception that inclusive preschools like Kindle Garden only benefit children with special needs. What many people don’t realize is that neurotypical children gain just as much, if not more, from this environment. Empathy, emotional intelligence, and the ability to navigate diversity are skills that textbooks can’t teach.
Take the story of Oliver Foo, a child who attended Kindle Garden and later, during an art workshop, quietly handed a toy caterpillar to a classmate with special needs who was having a meltdown. This small gesture speaks volumes about the kind of lessons these children are absorbing. It’s not just about academics; it’s about humanity.
The Broader Implications
If you take a step back and think about it, Kindle Garden’s model challenges the very foundation of how we approach education. Why do we segregate children based on their abilities? Why do we prioritize profit over inclusivity? These questions are uncomfortable, but they’re necessary.
The preschool’s location within the Enabling Village—a space designed to show how people with disabilities can live, learn, and work alongside the wider community—is no coincidence. It’s a physical manifestation of a larger vision: a society where differences are not barriers but opportunities for connection.
The Future of Inclusive Education
Kindle Garden’s fee cut is a gamble, no doubt. But it’s a gamble worth taking. AWWA plans to raise funds to cover the shortfall, and the preschool is even looking to expand with a second outlet in 2026. This raises a deeper question: Can this model be scaled? Can we see more inclusive preschools popping up across Singapore and beyond?
Personally, I think the answer is yes—but it requires a shift in mindset. We need to stop viewing inclusion as a luxury or an afterthought and start seeing it as a fundamental right. A detail that I find especially interesting is how Kindle Garden has debunked myths about inclusive education. For instance, they’ve shown that you don’t need full-time specialized professionals or massive spaces to create an inclusive environment. Small design choices, like pastel shades and reduced clutter, can make a big difference.
What This Really Suggests
Kindle Garden’s story isn’t just about a preschool slashing its fees. It’s about reimagining what education can and should be. It’s about prioritizing humanity over profit, connection over segregation, and empathy over exclusivity.
As I reflect on this, I’m reminded of Oliver’s words: “We should just treat them like any other person.” Simple, yet profound. In a world that often feels divided, Kindle Garden offers a glimpse of what’s possible when we choose inclusion over isolation.
From my perspective, this isn’t just a story about a preschool—it’s a call to action. It challenges us to rethink our priorities, not just in education, but in society as a whole. And that, in my opinion, is what makes this story so powerful.
