Daily Lessons from Life 21 August 2012 - Nationalising pre-school education could kill diversity

"Nationalising pre-school education could kill diversity - TODAY 21 August 2012

SINGAPORE: From a loss of diversity in meeting the needs of different children to the possibility that curriculum could become too focused on academics, pre-school operators have voiced concerns over the recent calls for the government to take over the sector.

Restricting the range of teaching philosophies could be detrimental to children who may have different learning needs, said the operators, who were not involved in the recent studies by the Lien Foundation on the pre-school sector.

The latest survey by Lien Foundation released last week found that seven in 10 of the 1,400 parents involved felt that Kindergarten 1 and Kindergarten 2 levels should be part of the public education system. The foundation also earlier released two other studies, one of which involved pre-school leaders and experts who called for reforms including making pre-school education free and partially nationalising the sector to level the playing field.

If pre-school education becomes geared towards preparing for academic readiness, this could result in "long-term negative effects on a child's enjoyment and learning", one operator said.

Cherie Hearts Corporate General Manager (Operations) Edmund Phang cautioned that nationalisation of the pre-school sector could compromise the diversity of curricula and reduce the choices parents have of finding a good match for their child.

Nevertheless, industry players agreed that more could be done to enhance the quality of pre-school education here. Some suggested having better trained teachers and providing funding to private operators.

To retain and attract good teachers, operators also felt there could be more public appreciation of their work and training opportunities."

It is natural for the private for-profit pre-school center operators to express ALL these concerns. It is an UNWELCOME disruptive force that can wreck their business totally!

Lessons for me are:

1. given these concerns by the private pre-school operators, the Ministry of Education (MOE) SHOULD and CAN AVOID with their eyes wide open these pitfalls of too focus on academics, too little creative activities, etc. Good place to start the national standardization!!;

2. MOE must have some ideas of the fundamental core achievement it want from pre-school education. What is it all about? is it to get the kids to learn what they WILL BE learning in primary school? IF so, it will be a BIG mistake. Keep them safe from dangers while their parents go to work and return them to the parents tired but happy so that they can go to sleep easily after a quality time powwow should be the primary aim for me! Forget about ANY academic learning!!;

3. pay the pre-school teachers and staffs adequately as they are keeping the parents productive. The cost and benefit equation go to be cast at a broader level! The government has to invest in this area as it is long term national building effort! When potential parents feel they cannot provide properly for the unborn kids, they simply STOP trying to have any babies!!

Will nationalizing pre-school education KILL diversity? Nay! No a chance AFTER MOE has been warned about all the pitfalls to avoid by the for-profit private operators!! LOL!!