Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Singapore: Past to Present. by Karuppiah Nirmala

Transcription

1 Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Singapore: Past to Present by Karuppiah Nirmala

2 Overview of Presentation Key Sectors in ECE Childcare Kindergarten ECE Singapore: Past to Present Key Milestones in the Development of ECE Phase 1: Beginnings of ECE in Singapore Phase 2: First Wave of Changes Phase 3 Second Wave of Changes Key Issues & Challenges Children Parents Teachers Karuppiah Nirmla

3 Key Sectors in ECE Childcare ( 1000 ) 18 months to 6 years* Half-day or Full-day Located in void decks, bungalows, workplaces, etc Private, non-profit & governmentfunded Programs vary Fees vary Government subsidy (S$300/S$150) for working mothers Financial assistance for low-income families Previously under the purview of MCYS *Infant Care for 2 months to 18 months ( 326) Kindergarten ( 500 ) 3 years to 6 years 3 to 4 hours Located in void decks, bungalows, churches, mosques, etc** Private, non-profit & governmentfunded Programs vary Fees vary No Government subsidy (S$300/S$150) for working mothers Financial assistance for low-income families Previously under the purview of MOE ** MOE Kindergartens (5 out of 15 to open in 2014; 4 out of 5 in primary schools)

4 Other Sectors of ECE Childcare ( 1000 ) Children aged 18 months to 6 years* Half-day & Full-day Located in void decks, bungalows, workplaces, etc Private, non-profit & government-funded Programs vary Fees vary Government subsidy for working mothers Financial assistance available for lowincome families * Infant Care for 2 months to 18 months Home Care (parents, grandparents, relatives, maids or older siblings) Out-of Home Care (baby-sitters or nannies) Kindergarten ( 500 ) Children aged 3 years to 6 years 3 to 4 hours* Located in void decks, bungalows, etc Private, non-profit & government-funded Programs vary Fees vary No Government subsidy for working mothers Financial assistance available for lowincome families * Longer in new MOE Kindergartens (5 out of 15 to open in 2014)

5 Key Milestones in the Development of ECE in Singapore Phase 1: Beginnings of ECE in Singapore

6 Year Event 1942 Child Welfare Society set up 2 day care nurseries 1947 Social Welfare Department, Ministry of Social Affairs (MSA)* set up Children Feeding Centres during the Japanese Occupation 1949 MSA set up the 1st crèche 1960s People s Association (PA) set up low-cost kindergartens (but closed in mid-1990s); Churches also set up kindergartens 1960s People s Action Party (PAP) set up low-cost kindergartens (renamed as People s Action Party Community foundation (PCF) kindergartens in 1986); has become a major player today 1976 Singapore Industrial Labour Foundation (SLF) set up 1st childcare centre set up under the hospice of National Trade Union Cooperation (NTUC) Childcare Services 1980 Ministry of Community Development (MCD)* introduced Childcare Program to attract/retain mothers in the workforce 1989 MCD released HDB void decks to private operators to set up childcare centres

7 Key Milestones in the Development of ECE in Singapore Phase 2: First Wave of Change

8 Year Event 1999 A Steering Committee was set up to review the quality of ECE in Singapore through licensing, training, curriculum & research 2000 MCYS & MOE introduced a common training pathway for Childcare & Kindergarten Teachers & Supervisors Certificate in ECCE (CECCE) & Diploma (Teaching & Leadership) in ECCE (DECCE-T & DECCE-L) 2000 MCYS & MOE set up the Preschool Qualifications Accreditation Committee (PQAC) to accredit Teachers qualifications & Teacher- Training institutes 2003 MOE launched MOE Kindergarten Curriculum Framework MCYS launched Good Practices Handbook: Nurturing Young Learners 2003 Ministry of Community, Youth & the Sports (MCYS)* introduced Integrated Child Care Program (for children with special needs) 2003 MCYS set up 18 infant care centres (2 months to 18 months)

9 Year Event 2008 MOE launched enhanced MOE Kindergarten Curriculum Framework Reviewed qualifications & training of Teachers (5 GCE O level passes including at least a B4 in EL; & DECCE-T to teach all levels)

10 Key Milestones in the Development of ECE in Singapore Phase 3: Second Wave of Change

11 Year Event 2010 MCYS introduced Early Childhood Research Fund (capped at S$8000) 2011 MCYS launched Early Years Development Framework (EYDF) for 0 to 3 years 2011 MCYS introduced Good Employer s Tool Kit to help employers recruit & retain Teachers 2011 MOE launched Singapore Preschool Accreditation Framework (SPARK) to improve quality of preschool education 2011 MCYS set up Early Years Qualification Accreditation Committee (EYQAC) to accredit Educarers & Teacher-training institutes 2011 MCYS launched 2 courses for Educarers Higher Certificate in Infant Care (Infants aged 0 to 18 months) & Advance Certificate in Early Years (Infants & toddlers 0 to 3 years) 2012 MCYS launched Continuing Professional Development Framework (CPD) for Teachers 2012 MCYS was restructured to form Ministry of Social & Family Development (MSF)

12 Year Event 2012 Lien Foundation released Starting Well Report Singapore ranked 29 out of 45 countries (Quantitative & Qualitative indicators Social Context, Availability/Accessibility, Affordability & Quality of ECE) 2013 Formation of Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) 2013 MOE launched refreshed MOE Kindergarten Curriculum Framework (KCF) 2012

13 Source: Economic Intelligence Unit (2012). Starting well: benchmarking early education across the world. London: The Economist..

14 Source: Economic Intelligence Unit (2012). Starting well: benchmarking early education across the world. London: The Economist..

15 Source: Economic Intelligence Unit (2012). Starting well: benchmarking early education across the world. London: The Economist..

16 Source: Economic Intelligence Unit (2012). Starting well: benchmarking early education across the world. London: The Economist..

17 Source: Economic Intelligence Unit (2012). Starting well: benchmarking early education across the world. London: The Economist..

18 Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Singapore: Past to Present Issues & Challenges

19 Overview of MOE Kindergarten Curriculum Framework 2012 Slide 7

20 Key Issues Challenges Children Image of Child & Childhood Children s Well-being Disadvantaged Children The Hurried Child Holistic Development? Outreach programs Key Issues & Challenges Parents Parent Involvement Parent Education The Hurried Parent Importance of Play Trust in the System Teachers Recruitment & Retention Salaries Training & Professional development The Image of the Teacher Low salaries Reflective Practitioner? Teacher as Co-constructor of Knowledge? Teacher as a Researcher?

21 Thank you! Dr Karuppiah Nirmala National Institute of Education Nanyang Technological University Singapore