Singapore is on a mission to improve the quality of its preschools. In June, the country so used to being at the top of international rankings for its education system, found itself uncomfortably in the 29th spot in terms of early childhood education according to a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The government has been quick to act and prioritize raising standards.  In addition to regulations, though, education systems need incentives and we need to think of ways the private sector (including employers and parents) can create those incentives.

Op-ed published in the Straits Times, December 4, 2012

Boost Pre-school Quality by Focusing on Teacher Training

By Trisha Craig for the Straits Times

AROUND the world, there is widespread recognition that investing in high quality early childhood education (ECE) yields high returns for individuals and societies. In the long run, ECE can help create a well-trained and competitive labour force.

In Singapore, the commitment to improving ECE runs deep. Indeed it starts at the top. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted in his National Day speech that we “need to improve the quality of our pre-school education. We now know how important the early years are… It will provide many long-term benefits later on in life”.

There are numerous markers of quality pre-school education including small classrooms, challenging curricula and an encouraging environment for problem-solving. A particularly important one is the training of the teachers.

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