Requiring Preschools to Set Aside Minimum Mandatory Rest Areas for Teachers and Staff
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) will mandate minimum space requirements for preschool staff to rest and conduct administrative work using adult-friendly furniture. Minister Masagos Zulkifli B M M responded that while ECDA requires preschools to provide office and rest areas, it does not currently prescribe specific space dimensions. He noted that the 2021 Occupational Health and Safety Assessment (OHSA) recommended dedicated areas and ergonomic furniture, leading ECDA to partner with the Association of Early Childhood and Training Services for bulk furniture discounts. Beyond physical space, the Minister highlighted recommendations such as adopting digital tools and wellness programs to better manage educator workloads and stress levels. ECDA will continue encouraging the adoption of OHSA recommendations to improve the working environment and well-being of educators in the early childhood sector.
Transcript
22 Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether the Early Childhood Development Agency will consider requiring preschools to set aside a minimum mandatory area for teachers and staff to rest or conduct administrative work in a conducive environment, with appropriate furniture that are suitable for adults and office work.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) requires every preschool to have an office area for staff and an area where staff may rest but does not prescribe the amount of space required. Operators have, generally, complied with this requirement.
In 2021, ECDA released the findings of the Occupational Health and Safety Assessment (OHSA) for the early childhood sector. Among the OHSA recommendations to improve the well-being of educators was the provision of dedicated areas and adult-friendly furniture to work and rest. ECDA worked with the Association of Early Childhood and Training Services (ASSETS) to make ergonomic furniture available on a portal that preschool operators can purchase, with bulk discounts.
Beyond adult-friendly furniture, OHSA also has other recommendations to improve educators' health and well-being. For example, preschools can better manage educators' workload and stress levels by adopting digital tools and signing them up for health and wellness programmes.
ECDA will continue to encourage greater adoption of the OHSA recommendations in our preschools to improve the working environment and well-being of our educators.