Average Daily Working Hours for Preschool Educators
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the impact of transitioning preschool educators to a five-day work week, with Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asking about average daily hours and concerns regarding longer shifts. Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli B M M noted that the removal of Saturday childcare services from January 2025 follows extensive stakeholder consultations aimed at improving educator well-being. He acknowledged that while some operators slightly increased daily hours for lesson preparation, others have maintained existing schedules within the new five-day model. To address sector concerns, the Early Childhood Development Agency will conduct a sector-wide review beginning in the second quarter of 2026 to evaluate operating processes and support structures. This review seeks to enhance the value proposition of early childhood careers and improve the daily work experience to ensure long-term manpower resilience.
Transcript
44 Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what are the average daily working hours for preschool educators since the shift to a five-day work week, compared to the previous six-day model; (b) whether sector engagements have surfaced concerns that a 44-hour weekly cap has resulted in longer daily shifts for educators; and (c) if so, what steps will the Ministry take to address these concerns.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) consulted key stakeholders extensively when it ceased the provision of Saturday childcare services from January 2025 onwards. ECDA surveyed over 8,000 parents and nearly 800 childcare centres across different operator types, and spoke to about 100 parents, educators and operators to gather different viewpoints. Stakeholders supported the removal of the requirement for childcare centres to operate on Saturdays as it would greatly improve educators' well-being, avail time for their own family needs and make a career in the early childhood (EC) sector more attractive and sustainable.
EC educators' working hours are determined by their employment contracts. After the shift to a five-day work week, some preschool operators have increased daily working hours slightly in order for educators to perform activities like lesson preparation and classroom set-up, although some others have been able to complete the work within existing daily work hours.
ECDA will continue to pay close attention to the well-being of our educators while striving to give our children a good start in life. As updated during the Ministry of Social and Family Development's Committee of Supply Debates, ECDA will convene a sector-wide review from the second quarter of 2026 to look at the operating processes and support structures in the sector to better support our educators. This review seeks to strengthen the sector's long-term manpower resilience by enhancing the overall value proposition of an EC career and improving EC educators' daily work experience.