Graduate Compensation for Non-graduate Preschool Teachers

Ms Tin Pei Ling asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether the move for non-graduate teachers to be considered for graduate compensation based on merits can be applied to the preschool sector, especially for teachers employed by the Anchor Operators.

Madam, today, the required qualification for pre-school teaching is a certificate or a diploma in early childhood care and education, which equips preschool teachers with relevant knowledge and competencies to perform their role. The large majority of early childhood educators in the sector, from new teachers to senior teachers and centre leaders, hold a diploma. The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) does not impose a degree as a requirement.

In line with the Applied Study in Polytechnic and ITE Review (ASPIRE) Committee's recommendations, ECDA is working with early childhood operators and practitioners to define the competencies required for different jobs at different levels. With this, we will be able to develop better career progression pathways and continuing professional development programmes for early childhood educators throughout their careers. It will also enable operators to better tie the remuneration of their staff to job size and performance, rather than whether they have a degree or a diploma.

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I thank the Minister for the clarification. I would like to ask the Minister, based on the conversations that I have with some of the pre-school teachers within my constituency, they shared that there has been a move to encourage them to take on graduate degree kind of programmes and this has asserted quite a bit of pressure on them. I am wondering if the Minister could clarify whether this move is actually signalling that the preschool sector should be moving into a higher skill, higher knowledge kind of basis whereby preschool teachers are expected, moving ahead, to hold a degree before they can dispense proper care for our toddlers or young children. Could the Minister help to address this question?

Madam, I do not think it is ECDA's policy to encourage people to pursue degrees and I do not think we have ever discussed this in my Ministry. As what we mentioned, what we want is to have people who are appropriately trained, adequate for their jobs and not whether they have a degree or a diploma per se. In fact, today, the vast majority of early childhood educators do not need a degree to be in the sector. And I think we all know that what we are looking for in the early childhood sector are people who can relate to children, people who can care and have the heart for them. A degree may neither be necessary or sufficient in itself. I do not think we will have a policy to say that you must have a degree in order to be an early childhood educator.

But, of course, having said that, for those who would like to upgrade themselves to take on positions with larger job scopes, then if they are found appropriate, we will provide the necessary support for them to upgrade themselves, whether they go for advanced diploma or any other qualifications as necessary.