Tag: ECDA

More Support for Preschool Educators

In Parliament on 8 Apr 2026, I asked the Minister for Social and Family Development about the daily non-contact time available for our preschool teachers. Many educators are under tremendous strain and have very little time during the day when they are not actively supervising or teaching children. I wanted to know if the government tracks how much time they actually get to handle prep work or rest. I pushed for a review of the current teacher child ratio and suggested a tiered model with separate ratios for educators and assistants.

The Minister for Social and Family Development shared that the authorities do not currently track data on average non-contact time for educators. He explained that staff ratios were last reviewed in 2017 to balance safety and operational needs while noting that preschools can hire more than the minimum number of staff to help with daily routines.

Our preschool teachers shape the next generation and we must ensure their workload remains sustainable. Certified assistants should be entrusted to manage caregiving independent of educators, to give teachers more dedicated non-contact time. This would also help centres manage costs by staggering daily shifts between educators and assistants across the 12 hours they are typically open. 

What are your views on the current staffing levels and structure in our preschools?

This is the full question and answer from 8 April 2026:

Average Daily Non-Contact Time For Educators In Preschools

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) whether the Ministry has data on the current average daily non-contact time for educators in preschools under the Anchor Operator and Partner Operator schemes; (b) when was the teacher-child ratio last adjusted; (c) whether the Ministry will review the current ratio; and (d) whether the Ministry will consider a tiered staffing model with distinct ratios for early childhood educators and ancillary care assistants. 

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) does not have data on the average daily non-contact time for educators in preschools. 

When the Early Childhood Development Centres Act was enacted in 2017, minimum requirements for staff-to-child ratio for preschools were reviewed to ensure the safety and well-being of children. These ratios are calibrated based on the programme level of children, type of programme hours, and the qualifications of staff. For example, one qualified early years educator is required for every eight children at the Playgroup level during programme hours. During non-programme hours, or if an additional assistant early years educator is deployed during programme hours, this can increase to 12 children. 

Preschools can and do operate with more than the minimum staff requirement to cater to their programming objectives and manpower deployment needs such as staff leave and training. On top of staff-to-child ratios, preschools may also deploy additional non-certified staff to assist certified educators with setting classroom routines, and the daily care and supervision of children.

Source: Singapore Parliament Reports (Hansard)

Child Protection Policies in preschools

Many parents are concerned about the safety of their young children after several high profile incidents at Kinderland preschool centres. On 18 September 2023 in Parliament, I asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether the Early Childhood Development Agency will require all preschools to adopt a Child Protection Policy and provide a template to all preschools to customise it to their own needs. A Child Protection Policy will articulate the minimum standards laid out in government regulations and may also include additional safeguarding commitments that are tailored to the school’s unique circumstances.

I also highlighted that a Child Protection Policy not only protects children, but also teachers and schools from unwarranted accusations by students and parents, by setting clear boundaries for all parties in their interactions with each other.

In response, Minister of State (Social and Family Development) Sun Xueling held up three sets of regulations and policy documents totalling over 200 pages that govern early childhood development to protect children, and explained that it is not for a lack of policies (that the incidents happened) but what is important is how well they are executed on the ground.

I appreciate Ms Sun bringing all those regulations to Parliament to illustrate her point that another policy is not necessary. I was not asking for yet another addendum to the hundreds of pages of regulations that preschools are already subject to. 

A school’s Child Protection Policy can encapsulate all the existing regulations in a liveable and breathable format. It could be published on the school’s website for all stakeholders to read. At the same time, it could be customised to the school’s unique needs. For example, the Singapore American School’s Child Safeguarding Commitment prohibits teachers from giving students rides alone in their car, or accepting social media friend requests from students until after they graduate from high school.

Most companies have a Data Protection Policy to protect their customers’ personal data, despite the existence of the Personal Data Protection Act and regulations. Why not do the same to enhance the safety of our children?

Here was my full question:

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) whether the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) will require all preschools to adopt a Child Protection Policy (CPP); (b) whether ECDA provides to all preschools a template of a CPP that can be customised to each preschool’s needs; and (c) whether ECDA ensures that all preschool principals, administrators and teachers are aware of and trained to adhere to the behaviour and guidance provided in section 33 of the Early Childhood Development Centres Regulations 2018.

This is the exchange I had with the Minister of State in Parliament:

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song (Aljunied): Sir, I would like to ask my question again because it was not fully answered and I also have one supplementary question.

Can ECDA require all preschools to adopt a child protection policy and provide a template to all preschools to customise to their own needs? A child protection policy will articulate the minimum standards laid out in Government regulations and may also include additional safeguarding commitments that are tailored to the school’s unique circumstances. It will help all stakeholders to live and breathe child safety, as Minister of State Sun has said just now.

My supplementary question is: is the Minister of State aware that a child protection policy not only protects children but also protects teachers and schools from unwarranted accusations by parents and students by setting clearer boundaries for all parties in their interactions with each other?

Ms Sun Xueling: I thank the Member for his questions. I would like to reiterate that in my main response, I had talked about the multi-layered safeguards that we have in place, that we have built up over the years in order to ensure child safety. I have with me here three sets of documents that govern early childhood development as well as the various policies that are in place to protect our children. This is the ECDC Act that I mentioned, 65 pages. We have the regulations, 66 pages. We have a Code of Practice; this is in its second edition, 75 pages.

All these are policies which we constantly review, which we constantly engage industry and operators on. It is not for a lack of policies. We can have all the policies under the sun, in the world. But what is important is how well it is being executed on the ground.

So, I fully recognise and understand where the Member is coming from. We are all on the same page. We want to protect our children as best as possible and we believe that the best way to do this is, to have multi-layered safeguards. Therefore, ECDA will look at these policies, rely on these levers, to make sure that operators, centres, educators are doing what they should do to ensure child safety. At the same time, operators need to know and truly breathe child safety in their policies and SOPs. Centre leaders and educators have to take their responsibilities seriously.

On the Member’s question as to how we can ensure that not only our children’s safety is being taken care of but also that we have policies in place for our educators, that is precisely why we have mandated CCTV installation so that when there is feedback, that there are unfortunate incidents in the childcare centres, that we then have evidence to support investigations and be able to give a comprehensive response to parents should they have concerns about their child’s safety in preschools.

Source: Singapore Parliament Reports (Hansard)