Preventing Child Abuse at Childcare Centres

Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what existing training is available for childcare teachers for managing hyperactive or socially challenging children; (b) what existing mechanisms are available for counselling teachers who are faced with such children; and (c) what types of conflict/classroom management training are given to childcare teachers.

All early childhood teachers are trained in the proper management of child behaviour. This is a basic requirement of both pre- and in-service training. Skills covered include using positive reinforcement to manage children's misbehaviour, role modelling and encouraging expected behaviour.

Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) encourages pre-school teachers to seek guidance from senior teachers or supervisors, and to work collaboratively with parents on children's developmental needs. Pre-schools are also encouraged to provide additional support, such as referrals to trained counsellors and mentoring arrangements, for their teachers.

ECDA will continue to review how standards and practices in our pre-school system can be further strengthened in areas, such as regulation, teacher training and support, physical design of centres and deployment of technology.

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