Big rise in pre-school teachers going for training to hone skills

Leadership, outdoor learning and helping special needs kids among areas covered

- Elisha Tushara

More pre-school teachers are going for training to be better equipped to support young children with special needs or learn classroom management, among emerging areas of need in the sector.

Since its inception five years ago to provide training to Singapore's early childhood educators, the National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC) said the number of pre-school teachers attending courses to upskill while working has more than doubled.

From 2,400 students in 2019, the number of those enrolled in these in-service courses meant for existing educators in the sector has surged to 6,200 in 2023.

Courses cover areas such as leadership, outdoor learning and special needs, and are mostly conducted at the NIEC City Campus in Bras Basah, as well as Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic.

Some can take place online or involve blended learning where students attend a mix of online and inperson classes.

NIEC accepted 2,500 students each year into its full-time diploma qualification courses in the past three years, two-thirds of whom are new to the early childhood sector.

In particular, the institute has seen rising interest in teaching children in their early years, from infancy to the age of three.

Its advanced certificate in early years course, which is available in English and Chinese, had on average a combined yearly intake of 680 students for the last three years.

In the first half of 2024, the intake of students grew by 20 per cent, compared with the same period in 2023.

These training opportunities are part of the Early Childhood Development Agency's efforts in recent years to attract and retain talent in the sector, as it ramps up recruitment of teachers to meet growing demand for pre-school places.