Early Childhood Education academy to be set up

SINGAPORE — An Academy for Early Childhood Education will be set up to support curriculum development and provide quality training for those interested in the sector, said Senior Minister of State for Education Indranee Rajah today (Aug 26).

Located at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, the academy will start taking in students next year. It is part of an ongoing effort to attract more to join the sector to meet the increasing demand for preschool teachers.

The target group includes mid-career switchers and stay-at-home mothers who may not be able to commit to evening classes but are keen to join the sector. For example, the current part-time CET Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education will be also offered as a full-time course and classes will take place in the day.

The full-time course can be completed in 18 months, compared to two and a half years if done part-time. The academy also aims to develop and offer new part-time CET programmes within the next three years. The programmes will cover aspects such as pedagogy, languages, developmental needs and leadership.

Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic also said they are already seeing greater interest in the early childhood diploma courses. The polytechnics have received about 600 applications through the Direct Polytechnic Admission exercise for next year, representing a more than 50 per cent increase in the number of applications received for this year’s intake. More than 300 applicants have been offered a place. CHANNEL NEWSASIA