Online Child Protection Module in Preschool Teachers Training Programme
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether the online child protection training module for preschool teachers can be made mandatory, expedited before late 2018, and integrated into NITEC training. Ms Sun Xueling raised these queries to enhance the detection and handling of child abuse cases. Minister Desmond Lee replied that educators already receive foundational training through polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education. He stated the Ministry would study accelerating the module's development and potentially making it a compulsory qualification component. Minister Desmond Lee noted that these modules will supplement existing screening and reporting guides currently used by professionals.
Transcript
50 Ms Sun Xueling asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) whether the online child protection training module to train preschool teachers in handling child abuse cases can be made mandatory; (b) whether such a module can be made available earlier than late 2018; and (c) whether this training can be provided as part of the NITEC training course for preschool teachers.
Mr Desmond Lee: Preschool teachers are equipped with basic skills and knowledge to understand and detect child abuse and neglect during their pre-employment training at the polytechnics, the Institute of Technical Education or the various private training agencies accredited by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA). In-service preschool teachers can also take up Continuing Professional Development courses related to the prevention and early intervention of child abuse.
In addition to this, the Child Protective Service (CPS) of the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has developed a Sector-Specific Screening Guide and a Child Abuse Reporting Guide to support professionals who work with children to recognise signs and symptoms of abuse and determine the appropriate course of action. ECDA conducts training sessions for principals and educators in the early childhood sector to use these guides effectively.
To make such training resources even more accessible to professionals in the education, health and social service sectors, MSF CPS is working with the Social Service Institute to develop online training modules on child protection. The online child protection training modules are currently in their early stages of development. Further testing and enhancements are required before rollout, expected in late-2018. My Ministry will study whether the development of the training modules can be brought forward. We will also look at whether these modules can be incorporated as part of the compulsory training components for early childhood qualifications, over and above the existing training that is already being provided, to help trainee preschool educators understand and detect child abuse and neglect.