S$10 million set aside to attract more childcare teachers through scholarships and awards

The Government is setting aside S$10 million over the next two years to attract more teachers to the childcare sector through scholarships and teaching awards.

The enhancements aim to raise the quality of childcare by promoting its professional development.

This was announced today by Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Chan Chun Sing, at the EtonHouse Reggio Emilia Conference.

The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) will offer about 600 scholarships and teaching awards.

Last year, 270 scholarships and teaching awards were made available, 95 more than in 2010.

There will be 80 scholarships per year for students to pursue a full-time diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education (Teaching) at Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic.

For outstanding local polytechnic students who are keen on a career in the childcare sector, the MCYS will offer 15 scholarships per year for a new Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education programme.

This is offered by the Singapore Institute of Technology in collaboration with Wheelock College.

The MCYS will extend the suite of existing part-time diploma scholarships to include the part-time diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education (Leadership) course.

It wants to build up the leadership capability of the sector and expand career progression opportunities.

A new category of teaching awards for in-service teachers to embark on specialist courses in early childhood pedagogy will also be introduced.

The MCYS will provide 15 awards for these courses, beginning with the Certificate in Teaching of Music and Movement course conducted by Republic Polytechnic.

ORIGINAL SOURCE
Content used in this not-for-profit blog remain the property of their respective owners.