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New national standard diploma for early-childhood education to start intake next year

SINGAPORE — The newly-formed National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC) will roll out a new diploma in early childhood education with a standardised core curriculum when it opens its doors next year, it was announced on Friday (May 11).

The newly-formed National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC) will roll out a new diploma in early childhood education with a standardised core curriculum when it opens its doors next year.

The newly-formed National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC) will roll out a new diploma in early childhood education with a standardised core curriculum when it opens its doors next year.

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SINGAPORE — The newly-formed National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC) will roll out a new diploma in early childhood education with a standardised core curriculum when it opens its doors next year, it was announced on Friday (May 11).

The Diploma in Early Childhood Development and Education will be offered by Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) and Temasek Polytechnic (TP).

The new diploma will replace three existing ones offered by the two polytechnics – the Diplomas in Early Childhood Education, Child Psychology and Early Education, and Early Childhood Studies – which will no longer admit students from next academic year.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had announced the setting up of the NIEC at last year's National Day Rally. The new national training institute for early childhood educators will begin operations from January next year and is funded and overseen by the Ministry of Education.

NIEC director Loke Teck Yong said it was important to set a "consistent quality" for the foundational training of early childhood educators.

"Hence we wanted to make sure that within the diploma, there will be a common core of modules.

These modules will equip students with the values, the requisite professional knowledge and skills for them to become (early childhood) educators and to be relevant to the sector needs as well," added Mrs Loke.

The foundational training under the new diploma will focus on areas such as child development

An NIEC spokesperson said the module content will be enhanced for "a more complete and holistic understanding" of the early childhood development needs of pre-school children, including those in their very early years.

Students will also have to complete two practicums, lasting 300 hours in all, and a 22-week

student internship programme. Both polytechnics currently offer practicums and internships as well, but vary in how the programmes are implemented.

In addition, third-year students will be able to opt for related electives offered by their schools to focus their training on specific areas. For a start, NP will offer an Early Intervention Track while TP will offer the Visual Arts Track.

From 2021, students will also have the opportunity to take electives offered at a different campus.

Final-year O-Level and Institute of Technical Education students who are keen can apply for next year's intake through the Polytechnic Early Admissions Exercise next month. The combined intake for the new diploma from both polytechnics will be around 700 students, comparable to the current total intake at both polytechnics for existing early childhood diplomas. Meanwhile, there will not be any changes in the curriculum structure or graduation requirements for students who are currently enrolled in the three existing diploma courses on early childhood education.

"NIEC will take over the running of the existing NP and TP courses, and is committed to ensure quality and continuity in students' learning," said the NIEC spokesperson. Their diplomas will be jointly awarded by NIEC and NP or TP.

NIEC will also continue to offer the Diploma in Chinese Studies (Early Childhood) and Diploma in Tamil Studies with Early Education in NP.

Ms Wong Peng Peng, 52, centre supervisor of the PCF Sparkletots branch at Woodlands Blk 801, said giving students the choice to take up electives to pursue a specific track in early childhood education might draw more students to the sector. The new diploma's standardised curriculum would also improve the overall image of the sector, she noted.

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