building the foundation envisioning the future dr. christine chen president, association for early...
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Building the FoundationEnvisioning the Future
Dr. Christine ChenPresident, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore
Moscow, Oct, 2014
![Page 2: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Singapore the Little Red Dot
![Page 3: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
The Three Pronged Approach
•The building blocks of centre based
childcare
![Page 4: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
*Island nation of 304.8 sq. meters
*Population of 5.08 million
*Assess, Availability and Affordability the drive in the early 80’
![Page 5: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Pre-school in the 1960s
![Page 6: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Economy was booming and women were encouraged to join the workforce
The first workplace childcare centre opened in a factory
By late 80’s one childcare centre opened every week
In the 80s…
![Page 7: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
• Child Care Accreditation Committee to accredit courses for teacher training (1990 – 2000)
• Child care teachers with 6 and 7 years of formal education was offered the Bridging Programme
• Formulating the Basic course, Intermediate course and Advanced course
Impact of the Rapid Growth
![Page 8: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Teacher Education the Corner Stone
• Ramping up of in-service training
• Initiating the pre-service training in 1999
• Forming the Pre-school Qualification Accreditation Committee (PQAC) setting standards for entry qualification, developing the framework for teacher preparation and setting standards for the Training Agencies
![Page 9: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
2001 - Pre-school Qualification Accreditation Committee (PQAC) a joint committee of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Community Development which looks into teacher qualifications of childcare and kindergarten teachers.
2003 – Kindergarten Curriculum Framework: Nurturing Early Learners for 4-6 years old refreshed in 2012
In the New Millennium
![Page 10: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
The PQAC heralds the coming together of two Ministries
Good things happen…
![Page 11: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
• 2006 – FLAiR (Focused Language Assistance in Reading) an early literacy intervention programme
• 2011 – Singapore Pre-school Accreditation Framework (SPARK for 4-6 years old) a quality assurance system
• 2011 – Early Years Development Framework (0-3 years old)
In the New MillenniumEarly Intervention programs
![Page 12: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
• Work Samples of Children from the FLAiR Programme
![Page 13: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
The Next Building Block
• We have discussed, Access, Availability, Affordability, Teacher Education, PQAC and early intervention program.
• The next building block is Quality- the Quality Assurance System
![Page 14: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
The Quality Assurance System
• The Quality Assurance System is referred to as SPARK which stands for the Singapore Pre-school Accreditation Framework.
• It was developed in 2008 and rolled out in 2011.
• On 12th September 2011, 52 pre-schools received the SPARK Certificate and the number growing to 380 in 2014.
![Page 15: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
The Quality Assurance System
![Page 16: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Quality through SPARK
![Page 17: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Pre-school in the 1960s
![Page 18: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
A SPARK Accredited Centre
![Page 19: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
At the Baker’s Shop
![Page 20: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Bakers at Work
![Page 21: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Theme for the Term
![Page 22: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Role Play
![Page 23: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
At the Hair Salon
![Page 24: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
![Page 25: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
• Accessibility• 200 more centres will be opened in the next five years
• Affordability• New Subsidy scheme
• Not only Availability but also Quality • Achieving SPARK
A Renewed Focus
![Page 26: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
The building blocks today are …
• Accessibility • Availability• Affordability• Quality
![Page 27: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
The building blocks, are like roots of a tree that support and anchor it firmly to the ground. From such a foundation, the future is built.
![Page 28: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
The establishment of the Early Childhood
Development Agency (ECDA)
A New Era Full of Promises
![Page 29: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
The Early Childhood Development Agency
• This Agency was formed in April, 2013 and it regulates both childcare centers and kindergartens
• Prior to this, the Ministry of Education registers kindergartens and the Ministry of Community Development licenses childcare centers. Today, there are about 1,700 early childhood settings with a workforce of 14,000.
![Page 30: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
An Era of Promises: Envisioning the Future
• Services moving beyond centre based care
• Services that are integrated and well coordinated by EDCA
• Services rendered must take an interdisciplinary approach where different professionals come together for the best interest of the child
![Page 31: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Interdisciplinary Approach requires…
• Professionals to re-construct their role from one of specialist to one of a collaborative practitioner.
• Professionals need a new lingo in communicating collaboratively for the best interest of the child
• Preparation programs for the various professions need to include all the above mentioned skills
• Such an approach is also necessary for successful inclusion of children with special education needs in the general classroom
![Page 32: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Envisioning Inclusive Education…• Begins with building a culture of valuing differences – valuing
diversity, celebrating differences, with values of respect, openness and acceptance.
• MOE Curriculum Framework 2012
• “Our society is becoming increasingly cosmopolitan and more Singaporeans live and work abroad. Our young will therefore need a broader worldview, and the ability to work with people from diverse cultural backgrounds with different ideas and perspectives”
• Developing a broader worldview and living in harmony in a diverse world.
![Page 33: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
Envisioning harmony among people…
• Disharmony occurs when young children transit from home to school…
• When children transit from pre-school to primary school…
• For children with special educational needs they would have another additional transition that is from the special schools to the general education classroom.
• Children with the help of caring adults will be in harmony with their new environment
![Page 34: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
Envisioning harmony among people…
• Working with diverse family units
• Engaging the community
• Having the whole village engaged in the well being of children
![Page 35: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
I envision a quilt that will act as a blanket that enwraps children and keep them safe and secure
![Page 36: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
Concluding Thoughts• The village today is one where diversity is the norm.
• This diversity arises from different family forms, learning differences, ethnicity, different social economic status and immigrant status.
• In Singapore , 1.85 million (36.4 %) are non Singaporean as such social integration is a challenge that needs to be addressed.
• The next lap then will be in building “social capital” (Putnam and Feldstein, 2003)
• And character skills such as motivation and self control and sociality that turn knowledge into know-how and people into productive citizens
![Page 37: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
The road maybe long but ECDA has just created a Programs and Partners
Division
And I am hopeful that partnerships will be developed for the wellbeing
of children and families in Singapore
![Page 38: Building the Foundation Envisioning the Future Dr. Christine Chen President, Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore Moscow, Oct, 2014](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032722/56649cef5503460f949be4d2/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
Thank you !
My best wishes to all
children and families in Russia