Forum Letter Replies
Better quality pre-school teachers although salaries are market driven
We refer to the recent letters, “Preschool Teachers are not babysitters” by Ms Maybel Tang (TODAY, 27 December 2007) and “Mandate fair salary for preschool teachers” by Mr Mahmud Mohd Aris (TODAY, 28 December 2007).
The Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) agree that pre-school educators play an important role in laying the early years’ foundation for the holistic development of young children.
The quality of early childhood care and education is invariably linked to the quality of the teaching staff. Both Ministries have thus raised the academic and professional qualification requirements for pre-school educators progressively over the years. Grants such as the Skills Development Fund (SDF) are available to defray the cost of teacher training and upgrading of professional qualifications.
The Ministries are not providers of child care or pre-school programmes. The providers are from the private and community sectors. Given this landscape, matters pertaining to remuneration and wages are directed by these providers and are essentially market driven. Similarly, with issues related to staff benefits, like medical, dental and annual leave, pre-school service providers are guided not only by the labour laws stipulated by the Ministry of Manpower but also by its own organisational mission, culture and management practices concerning staff welfare.
We would like to thank Ms Tang and Mr Mahmud for their feedback.
Director, Education Programmes Division
Ministry of Education
Director, Family Services Division
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports
“Preschool teachers not babysitters” (Maybel Tang, Today Voices, 27/12, p18)
The Singapore Government has been emphasising the education of our future generations, and recently increased the salaries of educators under the Ministry of Education.
What about our preschool educators? Despite their role in laying the foundation for children’s education and social and emotional well-being, it is sad that preschool educators not only do not have the respect of many parents but they also do not enjoy wage increments similar to what teachers in government schools get.
The entry requirements for preschool educators have become stricter over the years, as have the workload and expectations. The goods and services tax has gone up, as have wages across the board.
Yet, the meagre remuneration of the preschool professional has not increased.
The community, especially the parents, expect a lot from preschool educators. Although required to have at least a basic teaching certificate, many possess diplomas and even degrees.
It may appear as though they are playing all the time (ever tried playing with a class of preschoolers for a few hours?) — but unlike the preschools of yesteryear, today’s educators have a lot more on their plates; they are not babysitters.
Their responsibilities extend to returning to school during holidays so that everything will be ready and prepared when the children start the new term.
While passion and drive keep us going, our basic needs, too, to be satisfied &emdash; this means a reasonable reward for the time, dedication and care put into the education of the future generations.
The equation: Happy teachers = happy children = happy society.
If it is out of the Education Ministry’s hands, what about the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports? What is it doing for preschool educators?
“Mandate fair salary for preschool teachers” (Mahmud Mohd Aris, Today Voices, 28/12, p34)
I read the article, “Preschool teachers not babysitters” (Dec 27), and strongly agree with the writer.
Preschool educators have made, in my opinion, primary school teachers’ jobs much easier by moulding the youngsters for formal education.
I was sad to learn how low the salaries of these teachers were when I first sent my daughter to a preschool centre six years ago.
We know how much time and effort these teachers put in, ensuring that our daughters (I have three) understood, learned and applied what they were taught. These teachers have our utmost respect.
I know that some preschools are privately-owned and run, and that the Government may not have a hand in determining the salaries of teachers at these centres. But the authorities could mandate a reasonable salary scale for them. They could also direct that these teachers enjoy basic benefits like medical, dental and annual leave.
It is really disheartening to know that these preschool teachers — some of them holding diplomas and degrees — are not enjoying the remuneration that their counterparts in primary schools are getting.