Ensuring Quality of Preschool Education : MCYS

Multi-pronged approach ensures quality of preschool education
ST Forum 25 Feb 09

I REFER to the letter last Thursday, 'Beef up monitoring of childcare centres' by Mr Kuan Weng Chi. Mr Kuan feels more should be done to ensure the delivery of quality preschool education.

We agree that the provision of quality preschool programmes is important. Instead of prescribing specific curriculum, we seek to provide, through our licensing requirements and the Ministry of Education (MOE)'s 'Nurturing Early Learners' framework, directions on the desired outcomes of preschool education, and how these can be translated into quality learning activities. This allows for diversity in the teaching methods and development approaches to cater to the needs of different children. Parents can then select a service that best meets their preferences and expectations.

Minimum standards are ensured through our licensing system, which covers all aspects of childcare provisions, such as the physical environment, safety, health, hygiene, nutrition, staffing and programmes. The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) requires each childcare centre to develop its own philosophy of care for children, and a set of developmentally-appropriate practices in the areas of pedagogy and curriculum. Centres are also required to employ qualified teachers to implement the programmes. Recently, we had further raised the minimum requirements for preschool teachers.

MCYS also conducts unannounced visits regularly to centres to ensure compliance with licensing requirements and that quality and care standards are maintained.

Our multi-pronged approach aims to bring about better quality of preschool education. But there is always scope for improvement, and we review our approaches on a regular basis. In doing so, we will take Mr Kuan's feedback into consideration.

Lee Kim Hua
Director
Family Services Division
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports



Childcare centres monitored for quality
ST Forum : 26 Feb 09

I REFER to last Thursday's letter, 'Beef up monitoring of childcare centres'. Every childcare centre is licensed by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. The licensing framework is well-established and sound. Areas of assessment include physical environment, safety, health, hygiene, staff training and qualifications, programme and curriculum.

These dimensions are consistently and closely monitored and the licensing process is a rigorous one. Centres are awarded six-, 12- or 24-month licences in accordance with the ministry's well-rounded assessment of the centre's performance. Newly set-up centres are awarded a 12-month licence.

The assessment criteria have, over the years, gone through reviews, and as childcare operators will attest, been instrumental in driving overall improvements in the operations of childcare centres. Last month, the ministry further revamped licensing standards.

To encourage individuality, flexibility is accorded to each centre to run its programme, and to position its service in line with its philosophy of early childhood education while being guided by the ministry's licensing standards, and the Ministry of Education's framework for kindergarten curriculum.

From the business standpoint, this also allows product differentiation. The varied models and differing focuses offer families more choices for the care and education of their young ones. This gives operators motivation for self-improvement and provides avenues for research and development. Opportunities for learning from one another, for the betterment of the field, abound.

Families have different needs and preferences. Parents should capitalise on the multitude of programmes available, to select one that best caters to their needs and their educational and developmental goals for their children. It is important that, in making this choice, parents consider a centre with a philosophy of care that parallels their personal values and ideals, as differing views may result in disagreements over dissimilar expectations.

Ultimately, proper delivery of the programme depends on the quality of the preschool teachers, who are in direct contact with the children and their families. As an organisation, we are strong proponents of both ministries' initiatives in raising the standards of preschool teachers, and we work hand in hand with them towards achieving the same goal.

Chairman,
Association of Private Childcare Organisations (APCO)