Improving the Quality of Pre-school Education (PSE)

1. Improving the Quality of Pre-school Education (PSE) http://www.moe.gov.sg/preschooleducation/

2. Taking Stock • Diversity in pre-school sector, catering to different needs, aspirations and preferences • Focus on key leverage areas to improve quality: • Raised minimum qualifications for pre-school teachers (2001) • Introduced accreditation for teacher training courses (2001) • Disseminated a curriculum framework (2003) • Promoting yearly self-appraisal (2003) • Raising English proficiency of pre-school teachers (2007/08)

3. Taking Stock • Increasing participation in pre-school • Partnering with community agencies to reach out to children not attending pre-school • The quality of pre-school education has improved over the years. http://www.moe.gov.sg/preschooleducation/

4. Moving Forward Scope to further uplift quality • Teaching has become more complex with teachers helping children to construct knowledge • Educational profile and expectations of parents have changed over the years

5. Key Initiatives • Raising the minimum qualifications of pre-school teachers • Introducing a voluntary quality assurance and accreditation framework for pre-schools

6. Raising Minimum Qualifications of Teachers Current: 3 ‘O’ level credits including EL + CPT From 1 Jan 2009, new teachers must have5 ‘O’ level credits including EL and DPE-T • Those with C5 or C6 in EL must obtain a minimum band 6.5 IELTS / B4 or better within 2 years • DPE-T must be obtained within 4 years From 1 Jan 2013, existing teachers must have ‘O’ level EL credit / 5.5 IELTS and DPE-T to teach K1 & K2

7. Raising Minimum Qualifications of Teachers

8. Raising Minimum Qualifications of Teachers • Each centre to have 75% of all its pre-school teachers to meet the requirements to teach K1 & K2 by January 2013 • Teachers who qualify to teach K1 & K2 comprise • All new teachers with 5 ‘O’ level credits including EL and a DPE-T • Existing teachers with an ‘O’ level EL credit / 5.5 IELTS and a DPE-T

9. Definition of New vs Existing Teachers

10. Requirements for Principals • Continue with current practice of principals having to first register as teachers • No change to existing requirements for principals: - 2 years’ relevant experience - DPE-T & DPE-L

11. Notification of Teachers

12. DPE-T Entrance Requirements for Existing Teachers

13. Supporting Measures to Raise Teacher Qualifications • Bursaries for teachers to undergo academic and professional upgrading • Raise teacher training standards • Build up a pool of mentors to develop the teaching expertise in the pre-school sector

14. Fees and Funding • Parents can make use of the Baby Bonus Scheme and the monies in their Child Development Account • Enhancement of CFAC and KiFAS • Additional funding for eligible kindergartens to ensure that fees remain affordable

15. Quality Assurance and Accreditation for Pre-Schools • Implement in pre-schools from 2011 • Encourage pre-schools to benchmark education outcomes through self-appraisal and external assessment • Those who meet specified standards can be accredited

16. voluntary mandatory (improves quality) (assures min. stds) Accreditation (Grade 1) Quality Rating (Grades 2 – 4) apply for accreditation apply for external assessment Registration Self-appraisal (Regulation & Inspection) submit report to MOE Quality Assurance and Accreditation for Kindergartens

17. Supporting Measures to Raise Quality of Pre-Schools • Curriculum resources • Grants to non-profit pre-schools to purchase teaching and learning resources e.g. books, software • Fundfor pre-schools to innovate and experiment

18. In Summary