MOE is drawing up curriculum that outlines learning goals for children
By Ong Hwee Hwee, The Straits Times, 31 Aug 2012
PARENTS will soon get a better idea of what pre-schoolers need to know by the time they enter Primary 1.
For example, the basic standards required in areas like language, literacy and numeracy will be made clearer.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) yesterday said it is drawing up a "comprehensive" kindergarten curriculum. It will outline the "learning goals" for children by the time they complete kindergarten, and will be made available to all pre-schools by the end of the year.
This curriculum, which will incorporate the latest research in early childhood education, will include a guide for teachers. It will help them plan lessons and activities suitable for five- and six- year-olds, and include resources, such as games and puzzles, which teachers can use for lessons.
These moves, said MOE, will help to ensure children have a smooth transition from pre- school to Primary 1. It will also ensure consistent quality across the sector, which has about 500 kindergartens and 950 childcare centres.
A new committee will look at how to shape the curriculum, said a joint statement yesterday by MOE and the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS).
The committee will be co-chaired by Education Minister Heng Swee Keat and Acting MCYS Minister Chan Chun Sing.
It will spearhead the big push to raise the standards of pre-school education, while keeping it affordable for children from less privileged families.
The last major review of pre-school education here was in 2008. Since then, "steady progress" has been made, said the statement. "The Government will now step up its efforts to accelerate the quality improvements in the sector," it added.
The group will also look into the setting-up of a new statutory board to oversee childcare centres and kindergartens; oversee a pilot project of Government-run pre- schools; and provide better training for teachers. These were the priorities outlined by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his National Day Rally speech on Sunday.
Parents yesterday welcomed more clarity in the pre-school curriculum.
Housewife Nitha Neha, 32, sends her six-year-old daughter for extra maths lessons, on top of daily classes at her PCF kindergarten in Punggol North. This is because "people have been telling me that Primary 1 is quite difficult to manage", she said.
Parents yesterday welcomed more clarity in the pre-school curriculum.
Housewife Nitha Neha, 32, sends her six-year-old daughter for extra maths lessons, on top of daily classes at her PCF kindergarten in Punggol North. This is because "people have been telling me that Primary 1 is quite difficult to manage", she said.
"Reviewing the curriculum will help. I hope it will let us know what exactly is needed," she said.
But some felt that the curriculum should not be too clearly defined. Said housewife Michelle Lee, 39, who has a four-year-old daughter: "Each school should have a unique strength - if the curriculum was standardised, pre-school may just become 'pre-primary school', creating more stress."
Commenting on the committee's work in a post on his Facebook last night, Mr Heng said: "I do not expect to see immediate results, but done well, we can make a difference in a few years' time.
"Meantime, I encourage parents to talk to and play with their kids. At every age, there are activities that best help our children develop fully. Have fun!"
Government pre-schools on the way
Several pilot centres to open in the next few years; statutory board will regulate sector
By Kezia Toh & Stacey Chia, The Straits Times, 31 Aug 2012
SEVERAL government-run pre-schools will be up and running in the next few years.
They will apply research findings in effective teaching and learning in pre-schools to develop teaching resources and "best practices".
Several pilot centres to open in the next few years; statutory board will regulate sector
By Kezia Toh & Stacey Chia, The Straits Times, 31 Aug 2012
SEVERAL government-run pre-schools will be up and running in the next few years.
They will apply research findings in effective teaching and learning in pre-schools to develop teaching resources and "best practices".
These would then be shared with other industry operators to spur quality improvements, said the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) in a joint release yesterday.
The MOE will decide how these pilot centres will be implemented, including the locations and number to be set up initially. It will also decide when these centres will be ready to take in pupils.
These early moves by the authorities come after studies - such as one commissioned by the Lien Foundation ranking Singapore 29th out of 45 countries in early childhood education standards - turned the spotlight on the industry.
A new committee to formulate and oversee strategies to improve the sector will be led by Education Minister Heng Swee Keat and Acting MCYS Minister Chan Chun Sing. Members include MCYS Minister of State Halimah Yacob and Ms Indranee Rajah, the incoming Senior Minister of State for Law and Education.
Yesterday, the ministries also gave more details on the new statutory board which will be responsible for developing and regulating both kindergartens and childcare centres.
Given the great range of choices, the board would then provide "a single focal point to drive quality, accessibility and affordability improvements in this sector", said the statement. The MOE and MCYS currently oversee pre-school education.
Government Parliamentary Committee for Education deputy chairman Denise Phua said the new board should go beyond developing more regulations and engage stakeholders to take in their needs.
"It should be sure to get down to the ground to understand the most critical needs and root issues, and put in time and effort to effectively address them."
To keep pre-school education affordable, more operators will also be roped in to provide programmes for the mass market. Just two anchor operators - the PAP Community Foundation and the National Trades Union Congress' My First Skool - now receive recurrent grants from the Government that lower operating costs.
In return, operators are required to provide good quality, affordable services targeted at the broad majority of low and middle income families. The ministries said they will look into expanding the number of anchor operators and will announce more details of the criteria and conditions of joining the scheme later.
Mr Francis Ng, 48, founder of childcare centre chain Carpe Diem, said he might consider becoming an anchor operator to help parents feeling the pinch of high school fees.
"I hope that those who want to be anchor operators do it for the right reasons, which is to provide service to the community," he said.
"I hope that those who want to be anchor operators do it for the right reasons, which is to provide service to the community," he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment