Recommendations offered by early childhood educators to improve preschool education

A panel of 27 leaders in early childhood education has made a list of suggestions to improve Singapore's preschool education.

These include looking at preschool education as a public good by possibly providing free preschool education for children, at least at Kindergarten 1 and 2 raising the image of pre school teachers by establishing a national pay scale "that will match those of mainstream teachers" and advocating the formation of a distinct lead ministry to better regulate the sector.

The panel made these recommendations following surveys and interviews with leaders in early education, including preschool principals and teachers. 

This study was commissioned by the Lien Foundation. 

CEO of Lian Foundation, Lee Poh Wah said: "We hope this (latest) study will provide the platform for an informed discussion among policy makers, educators and parents that will lead to quality preschool education." 

The foundation had also commissioned another international report. The results of that report were released in June. 

It ranked Singapore 29 out of 45 countries on the quality of early education.