Conversion or Bridging Programmes for Non-Ministry Kindergarten Teachers to Gain Access to Ministry's Kindergartens

34 Mr Ang Hin Kee asked the Minister for Education (Schools) whether there are conversion or bridging programmes to allow kindergarten teachers who are currently not under the Ministry's group of early childhood educators to gain access to join the Ministry's kindergartens so as to expand the pool of qualified early childhood educators at these kindergartens.

Mr Ng Chee Meng: To date, there are 15 Ministry of Education (MOE) Kindergartens (MKs) and three more will open in 2018. Like other preschool operators, MOE employs experienced preschool educators from the sector, as well as fresh graduates from early childhood education courses, for example, the Diploma in Early Childhood Studies from Temasek Polytechnic. There is no need for conversion or bridging programmes for qualified preschool educators crossing over from the other preschools to MKs.

To increase the recruitment pool of MK educators, MOE has partnered Ngee Ann Polytechnic to run the full-time Diploma (Conversion) in Early Childhood Teaching programme, targeted at mid-careerists who do not have the requisite qualifications in early childhood education to prepare them for their role as MK educators.

MOE will continue its efforts in attracting and retaining good MK educators.