Abstract
Singapore has placed an unprecedented emphasis on early childhood education (ECE) in order to achieve the “top-rated education” aim proposed by the government at the beginning of the postmillennium. The major endeavors on ECE thus move from the local traditions of efficiency- and standardized-oriented education to a cosmopolitan outlook for the future. However, this shift and the accompanying reforms may have arisen tensions among participants in the sociocultural milieu. This chapter reviews the ECE policies that have been implemented over the recent decade through the “3A2S” framework (Li, Wong, & Wang 2010; Li & Wang in press). Using the most recent data obtained from the Ministry of Education, the Early Childhood Development Agency, and other governmental agencies, we examine the existing issues of ECE and analyze the current trends of relevant policy changes for this decade. The results indicate that (1) the accessibility rate of ECE is high with almost all children attending a preschool; (2) a variety of subsidies have been invested to improve affordability of ECE with an emphasis on low-income families; (3) quality assurance and accreditation system has been established to promote the accountability of ECE; (4) sustainability is well maintained in ECE policies; (5) social justice has been highlighted by the policymakers.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Alviar-Martin, T., & Ho, L. C. (2011). “So, where do they fit in?” Teachers’ perspectives of multi-cultural education and diversity in Singapore. Teaching and Teacher Education, 27(1), 127–135.
Ang, L. (2006). Steering debate and initiating dialogue: A review of the Singapore Preschool curriculum. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 7(3), 203–212.
Cheah, Y. M. (1998). The examination culture and its impact on literacy innovations: The case of Singapore. Language and Education, 12(3), 192–209.
Early Childhood Development Agency. (2012). Ensuring quality early childhood education and childcare services. Retrieved from https://www.ecda.gov.sg/PressReleases/Pages/Ensuring-quality-early-childhood-education-and-childcare-services.aspx.
Early Childhood Development Agency. (2015). The Preschool landscape in Singapore. Retrieved from http://skoolopedia.com/preschool-singapore-2015-infographic/.
Ebbeck, M., & Chan, Y. Y. Y. (2011). Instituting change in early childhood education: Recent developments in Singapore. Early Childhood Education Journal, 38(6), 457–463.
Ebbeck, M., & Gokhale, N. (2004). Child-rearing practices in a selected sample of parents with children in childcare in Singapore. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 5(2), 194–206.
Gopinathan, S. (2001). Globalisation, the state and education policy in Singapore. In J. Tan, S. Gopinathan, & W. K. Ho (Eds.), Challenges facing the Singapore education system today. Singapore: Prentice Hall.
Hatch, T. (2013). Beneath the surface of accountability: Answerability, responsibility and capacity-building in recent education reforms in Norway. Journal of Educational Change, 14(2), 113–138.
King, J. (2008). Evaluation of the sustainability of ECE services during the implementation of pathways to the future-ngā huarahi arataki. Auckland: Health Outcomes International.
Li, H., & Wang, X. C. (in press). International perspectives on early childhood education in Chinese societies, In N. Rao, J. Zhou, & J. Sun. (Eds.), Early childhood development in Chinese societies, Springer.
Li, H., Wong, M. S., & Wang, X. C. (2010). Affordability, accessibility, and accountability: Perceived impacts of the pre-primary education vouchers in Hong Kong. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 25, 125–138.
Lim, S. M. Y. (2004). Looking at education through a Deweyan lens: How play can take shape in Singapore’s preschools. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 5(3), 396–401.
Ministry of Education Singapore. (2010). Parliamentary replies – 24th, Nov, 2010. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/parliamentary-replies/2010/11/Preschool-education.php.
Ministry of Education, Singapore. (2011, March 20). Uplifting Preschool education http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/forum/2011/03/uplifting-Preschool-education.php.
Ministry of Education Singapore. (2012). Parliamentary replies – 24th, Aug, 2012. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/parliamentary-replies/2012/08/preschool-education-1.php
Ministry of Education, Singapore. (2013a, August 31). MOE kindergartens’ curriculum features distinct Singapore flavor and flagship programs. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/2013/08/moe-kindergartens-curriculum-features-distinct-singapore-flavour-and-flagship-programmes.php.
Ministry of Education, Singapore. (2013b, March 27). MOE’s first five pilot kindergartens in primary schools and the community. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/2013/03/moe-first-five-pilot-kindergartens-in-primary-schools-and-the-community.php.
Ministry of Education, Singapore. (2014, September 20). Nurturing early learners framework for mother tongue language – Chinese, Malay and Tamil version now available. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/2014/09/nurturing-early-learners-framewor k-for-mother-tonguelanguages. php
Ministry of Education, Singapore. (2015a). Bring out the best in every child. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/about/files/moe-corporate-brochure.pdf framework for mother tongue language – Chinese, Malay and Tamil version now available. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/2014/09/nurturing-early-learners-framework-for-mother-tongue-languages.php.
Ministry of Education, Singapore. (2015b, February 17). MOE kindergartens launch new program to help parents better support their preschool children’s holistic development. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/2013/03/moe-first-five-pilot-kindergartens-in-primary-schools-and-the-community.php.
Ministry of Social and Family Development. (2015). Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education – Teaching (DECCE-T). Retrieved from https://app.msf.gov.sg/Portals/0/Files/DECCE-T-course-content.doc.
NG, J. Y., & Chia, A. (2014, January 28 published). 3 new anchor operators set to provide 8,000 more childcare places. Today, p. 1. Retrieved from http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/3-new-anchor-operators-set-provide-8000-more-childcare-places.
Sharpe, P. (2002). School days in Singapore: Young children’s experiences and opportunities during a typical school day. Childhood Education, 79(1), 9–14.
Spykerman, K. (2013, February 25). Budget 2013: Govt to spend S$3b on Preschool sector over next 5 years. Chanel NewsAsia, p. 1. Retrieved from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/budget-2013-govt-to-spend/590362.html
Tharman, S. (2003). Speech by Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam senior minister of state for trade and industry & education official launch cum seminar of MOE’s Preschool curriculum framework at Nanyang Polytechnic auditorium. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/speeches/2003/sp20030120.htm.
Ting, T. C. (2007). Policy developments in Preschool education in Singapore: A focus on the key reforms of kindergarten education. International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy, 1(1), 35–43.
Tzuo, P. W. (2010). The ECE landscape in Singapore: Analysis of current trends, issues, and prospect for a cosmopolitan outlook. Asia-Pacific Journal of Research in Early Childhood Education, 4(2), 77–98.
UNESCO International Bureau of Education. (2006). Singapore Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programs. Retrieved from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001472/147238e.pdf.
Zulkifli, M. (2006). Speech by senior parliamentary secretary (education) Mr Masagos Zulkifli BMM, for opening of parliament (2006, November 8–14). Singapore: Ministry of Education. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/speeches/2006/sp20061108.htm.
Zulkifli, M. (2008). Improving the quality of Preschool education. Ministry of Education, Singapore. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/speeches/2008/03/04/fy-2008-committee-of-supp ly-de-5.php.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Appendix
Appendix
List of Acronyms
- AOP:
-
Anchor Operator
- ASAN:
-
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
- DECCE-T:
-
Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education-Teaching
- ECDA:
-
Early Childhood Development Agency, Singapore
- ECE:
-
Early Childhood Education
- EL:
-
English language
- EPE-T:
-
Diploma in Preschool Education-Teaching
- GDP:
-
Gross domestic product
- KiFAS:
-
Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme
- MCYS:
-
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, Singapore
- MOE:
-
Ministry of Education, Singapore
- MSF:
-
Ministry of Social and Family Development, Singapore
- MTL:
-
Mother tongue language
- NEL:
-
Nurturing Early Learner
- NTUC:
-
National Trades Union Congress
- OECD:
-
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
- PAP:
-
People’s Action Party
- PCF:
-
PAP Community Foundation
- PCI:
-
Per capita income
- QA:
-
Quality assurance
- QRS:
-
Quality Rating Scale
- SPARK:
-
Singapore Preschool Accreditation Framework
- UNESCO:
-
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Jing, M. (2017). The ECE Landscape Being Shaped by Cosmopolitanism: An Examination and Evaluation of Policies in Singapore. In: Li, H., Park, E., Chen, J. (eds) Early Childhood Education Policies in Asia Pacific. Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects, vol 35. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1528-1_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1528-1_10
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-10-1526-7
Online ISBN: 978-981-10-1528-1
eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)