Talk about having a second childhood back at school.

From schools to retirement homes

Bukit Batok MP Murali Pillai has suggested in Parliament to turn vacant school sites into retirement homes.

And this idea is being considered by the government.

National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said of such projects in a written reply:

"Their location within established housing estates will enable residents to age in residential surroundings."

"Their relatively large site area can accommodate a significant number of housing units and common spaces, allowing residents to interact with one another and develop a sense of community."

"However, there are also costs involved to rejuvenate the ageing vacant school properties and reconfigure them for housing purposes."

Why?

The main plus point for such a conversion is cost savings as the infrastructure is already available.

Capital expenditure is passed on to the homes' seniors if developers were to build the retirement homes, which is the usual practice.

But cost savings will be passed on to buyers if the means of sale or lease are arranged by the government.

What are vacated schools in Singapore used for?

Retrofitting of a school compound for residential use is not far-fetched.

The Herencia, located at Kim Yam Road, used to be Nan Chiau High School. It is now a commercial building with high ceilings.

The Academy of Singapore Teachers, the Singapore Red Cross and the Enabling Village are located in former school compounds.

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Fewer kids these days

Declining enrolment figures has led to school mergers and has seen 11 schools vacated in 2016 and 2017, with four more to be vacated this year.

At least nine other former school sites managed by the Singapore Land Authority are vacant state properties.

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