Percentage of In-service Early Childhood Educators Who Have Completed Certificate in Inclusive Practice Course

Ms Eileen Chong Pei Shan asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what percentage of in-service early childhood educators have completed the Certificate in Inclusive Practice (CIP) course; and (b) what are the Ministry's plans to encourage and enable more early childhood educators to take the CIP course to deepen their knowledge and skills in supporting children with developmental needs.

The National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC) began offering the Certificate in Inclusive Practice (CIP) in 2022 and there has been an intake of about 80 in-service educators each year.

Beyond equipping educators through CIP, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) also works with training providers to incorporate inclusive practice into the curriculum of early childhood pre-service training and continuing professional development (CPD) courses. These courses develop preschool educators' competencies in inclusive practice, including behaviour guidance and differentiated instruction to support children with additional needs.

ECDA has also piloted the Inclusive Support Programme (InSP) in six preschools, to integrate early intervention and early childhood services at preschools for children requiring medium levels of early intervention support. Educators in InSP preschools undergo training and coaching to equip them with the necessary skills and competencies to support children with additional needs in the preschool setting. ECDA remains committed to working with partners to make preschools more inclusive and to provide a good start for every child.