Channel NewsAsia
Updated: 08/16/2012 04:59 | By Channel NewsAsia

Lawrence Wong warns against formalizing pre—school education

HAVE YOUR SAY: Should pre-school education be formalised?

Lawrence Wong warns against formalizing pre—school education

SINGAPORE: Senior Minister of State for Education, Lawrence Wong on Wednesday warned against rigid standardisation of pre—school education.

Speaking on the sidelines of a heritage event at the Singapore Art Museum, Mr Wong also said the education ministry has put in place guidelines on content for all pre—school operators.

Mr Wong said: "Pre—school should not be formalising academic learning at an early age. In fact many studies around the world have shown that there is a risk of prematurely formalising learning in pre—schools. And it might lead to negative outcomes for the children."

Mr Wong also urged parents to opt for a fun, play—based pre—school environment for their children.

He said: "We have curriculum guidelines which we have put to parents. We are updating the curriculum guidelines now and we’re doing that in consultation with both pre—school operators and parents. As we put these guidelines out, hopefully this will help parents be more discerning when they choose which operators they’d like to go to."

— CNA/fa

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14Comments
MumtoC
Aug 15, 2012 7:12PM
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No, it should not be formalised. Pre-schoolers should learn in a fun and enjoyable environment, and that is how they can learn best. It should be a happy experience for them, given such young tender age. The stress of academy will not be helpful for them, it should be introduced when they are old enough, and that is the kindergarden phase onwards.
linus1982
Aug 15, 2012 7:40PM
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everything must officialise start at primary school.. Pls do take care for those poorer family that cant send their children for pre-school or early childhood education. If it is a must, goverment have to start paying the fee at pre-school level.

 

If those "Kiasu" parent would not want their children to lost out. Then they should fork out their money to send to their prefer pre school. Children now are so stress, Saturday english class, sunday music class, swimming class, dancing class, chinese class, drawing class.. So many thing to learn in one week. In the end wrong value created.

 

What will happen to future their children. Should their primary education should start at 8am and end at 6pm?

 

Seen it had proven so many scholar or high educated pple had not have their moral charactor in it. what for do so much.. reach the minimum or average requirement should b enuff..

 

In fact MOE should work something out that stop school that request their student to buy note book or Ipad for education purpose.. Understanding interactive education is something new and could bring down the work load or paper work for teacher n focus on value add teaching. Since this is working, why not during PSLE or exam use e-learning for all student and dun use paper writing..

 

So guideline will make pple creative bt yet become indirectly lazy. More to look back that not all parent can afford and could lead to potential social issue.

 

Simple chinese langauge had been change n change and had been veri simple.. why till now still change or in fact introduce new langauage. Where is our directs? next generation once gone mean our culture had gone. future pple will only know my ancestor is from Singapore not from China, India or Indonesia or etc..

 

If MOE want to impose pre-schooling, why not impose a better value added moral education..

Maeby
Aug 16, 2012 12:30AM
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pre school education should not be formalized. Each child learns differently and comes from different social, cultural and education background.  Guidelines should be given to ensure children by kindergarten two , they are academically and emotionally ready for formal education in primary one. Not every child is suited for play based environment. Parents should choose operators that will narrow the gaps of the children's shortcomings and at the same time enhancing their talents. For example, if a child is socially and emotionally awkward, a play based operator will aid the child in developing those areas. If the child is curious and inquisitive by nature, operators who run project based curriculum will benefit the child in expanding his thinking processes.
Lay502
Aug 15, 2012 8:19PM
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Pre-school fees ranging from $200+ to s$1000+....Observed that the diff is the branding and teaching program. If the teaching program is proven effective for the child, why not MOE standardised and formalize it for all? And the rate should be across the board such as primary and secondary school.
catlover0764
Aug 23, 2012 5:31AM
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Let us park aside the affordability issue. What the government should focus on is the pay of the pre-school educator. This is always a subject that is been brush aside and not address.

 

If you want good educators to stay in this field, the governemnt should subsidize part of the salary of the teachers (ie inclusive of the private sector) and not let parents take the full load of the cost factor.

 

What is the use of warning rigid standardazation of pre-school and not look into the above subject which the government is avoiding?

 

Thank you for reading.

Cecilia Ho
Aug 23, 2012 4:04AM
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The issue of affordability is the crux of the whole issue in formalsing preschool education.  Children from lower income group are unable to access high quality teaching environment.  So how can we make this a more level entry for this group of children?  

As it is, I believe our children entering to Primary One comes from a diverse preschool environments (Montessori, play based, thematic, etc) so one child may know how to read at proficient level but another only reads 3 letter phonetic words.  How does the Primary One teacher cope?  How does the child from lower quality centre feel when he enters into this class?  What about the other children from higher quality centre, wouldn't he be bored in class and started to misbehave?  

As seen from the comments, most parents are "Not for formalsing" and the reason is all hope to have a play-based, fun learning environment.  If this is what all of us believe in, why do parents still ask preschools or kindergartens whether the children has worksheets?  Also why do parents ask schools whether they give spelling or teach reading skills?  

Worksheets take the fun out of learning.  Worksheets only tell us what children do not know, not what they know or capable of learning.  

Formalising preschool education making it free for all children so that the above issues could be resolved.  Also formalising preschool education is asking the government to provide guidelines on the curriculum, salary range, teacher training qualifications and recognising early childhood teachers are also teaching professionals.  This will help retain teaching staff and lower staff turnover in the centres.  

High quality centres have besides facilities, are their teaching staff with highly qualified teaching credentials, often degree holders or master holders and lower staff turnover.  That is the whole difference between a high and low quality centre. 

 




sk114
Aug 21, 2012 3:58PM
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It should NOT be formalised.... i am proud to say my 2 year-olds are a fun and happy kid although she didn't start her playgroup early at 18 months, she loves to explore things herself without us forcing her to, and you will be amazed to see how strong and fast a 2 year old's learning power is... naturally :) 
mum610
Aug 15, 2012 9:21PM
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Pre-school education should not be formalised.  Should have a fun-play environment instead.  Should have state run pre-schools.  Children from lower income groups will benefit. 
henryL408
Aug 22, 2012 3:36AM
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While the Minister emphasis on Fun/Play in child-growth, parents are feeling the pressure of the incontrolled rising fees &  informal pre-school education syllabus, making them feel insecurity for their children.

Let,s face it the problem is there. The Ministry perhaps may work out guidelines of pre-school syllabus and fee charging system so as to guide the proper progress of our pre-school system. Isn't pre-school system the "Root" and starting point of our Education system? 

 

LeJeSer
Aug 16, 2012 7:56AM
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Not necessary, natural childish way the best. It is unwise to deprive them from have the freedom of choice of their way in the beginning stage. Apply the more human way and the simplest way the best to nurture our future generation. To cultivate creativity!
freetochangetheworld
Aug 26, 2012 11:35AM
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In this era, childhood is about to be extinct. Is this what you really want to give to your future kids?
A life with rigid rules does not make any child clever, in fact you are making them into robotic squares. They only know one way. The studying way. Compare this with any foreign talent who has freedom to learn what they are doing well at, thus they become excellent. So in the near future you like to see most Singaporeans work at entry or bottom level only? Because seriously you think forcing them to mature early in that boring manner, will get them anywhere?

Open up your minds, if you are square, what you'll be teaching our kids will also never be anything close to genius. Tell me, how exactly do you think opening up our minds in the sixth sense under so much pressure will be? Commiting more suicides at a very young age. Watch out. You'll lose more than you are ready to gain. Our unused brains, can only be opened with a free mind. And that is something if you tamper wrongly, will only cause destruction of self. 

You better focus more on, filial piety, harmony, honesty, kind words, courage, humanity, family and friend values in your education because they are also extinct.
ancfoo
Aug 16, 2012 10:14PM
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Let the little ones enjoy learning so as to stimulate their interest to quest for knowledge.  The government should put in place a program to identify and enable the children to develop their potentials to the fullest.

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