MCYS says child care centres to be kindergartens with "plus factors"
By Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 21 August 2008 2112 hrs

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SINGAPORE: The vision for Singapore's childcare centres is kindergartens with “plus factors”.

Elaborating on initiatives to enhance early childhood education in Singapore, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, said child care centres should impart essential life skills and provide the right learning environment.

To this end, the ministry will work with child care operators and the Education Ministry in the coming months to come up with an integrated curriculum for early childhood education and the care sector.

For younger children, there will be an even more holistic approach.

To enhance the quality of early childhood educators, Mrs Yu-Foo said there will be scholarships and bursaries for deserving child care teachers to obtain diplomas and degrees in early childhood education and care.

She said scholarships for degree courses will be tenable at the Regional Training and Resource Centre (RTRC), among other institutions. Meanwhile, bursaries for diploma courses will be tenable at government-funded institutions, such as Ngee Ann Polytechnic and the RTRC.

Details on the various initiatives will be announced later.

Mrs Yu-Foo also welcomed the government's move to change the date on the slew of parenthood initiatives announced by the Prime Minister in his National Day Rally. She said the move is an indication that the government has listened to feedback from young parents.

Meanwhile, six educators received the early Childhood Teacher Award on Thursday evening.

A commemorative book, called "Child Care in Singapore: Waves of Professionalism", which celebrates the contributions of child care professionals over the years, was also launched. - CNA/vm