01 June 2006

Minimum educational requirement necessary to raise quality of early education providers

1. It is heartening by the interest to teach in the pre-school sector as expressed by several letter-writers recently. Some had also raised queries about the educational requirements for pre-school teachers.
2. The Ministry of Education (MOE) recognises that teachers are the key influence on children's learning in their early years, and help lay the foundation for their life-long journey of learning. We hence strive towards a workforce of well-trained and committed professionals in early childhood education.
3. The minimum requirements MOE stipulates for a kindergarten teacher are the most important element in our efforts to raise the quality of early education providers. These are:
   1. A minimum of GCE 'O' level credits in 3 different subjects including English Language (EL1) or Mother -Tongue Language (for MTL teachers only); and
   2. Certificate in Pre-school Teaching (CPT) or Diploma in Pre-school Education-Teaching (DPE-T).
4. The GCE ‘O’ level requirement can never be a perfect measure. But it is a widely accepted measure of whether a teacher has the language proficiency and general academic ability to effectively deliver the pre-school curriculum.
5. One letter-writer, Mrs Nancy Lee-Wong (“3 O levels is reasonable criterion”, 27 May) had suggested that those without the minimum academic requirements who have an interest in working with young children could explore getting training as early educators, childcare assistants and infant-toddler caregivers.
6. Another possibility is for them to consider taking the GCE 'O' Level examination, as this would enable them to enrol for the certificate or diploma courses in pre-school education. They can explore doing so at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), for example, which conducts classes for adults who wish to sit for the GCE 'O' level examination.

Sum Chee Wah (Ms)
Director, Education Programmes
Ministry of Education