Speech at Regional Training and Resource Center Asia and Wheelock College Graduation Ceremony

Mr Gan Kim Yong, Acting Minister for Manpower, NTUC Auditorium

Ms Jackie Jenkins-Scott, President, Wheelock College, USA

Mr Bertie Cheng, Board of Directors, NTUC Childcare

Dr Aline Wong, Chairman, Professional Advisory Council, Regional Training and Resource Center Asia

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

1.   Good afternoon to all of you. I am pleased to join you this afternoon for the Regional Training and Resource Center (RTRC) Asia and Wheelock College graduation ceremony. First, let me congratulate all the graduates on your achievement. I am heartened to see over 300 pre-school professionals graduating today.

Manpower Demand in the Pre-School Sector

2.   Pre-school education plays an important part in our children's development. Higher quality early childhood education helps our children to grow holistically and lays a strong foundation for their formal education in our schools. Good childcare services also support working parents by providing quality care for their children.

3.   There is growing demand for pre-school workers and professionals in Singapore. Today, we have some 750 childcare centres and 480 kindergartens. Over the next five years, another 200 childcare centres are expected to open. This will provide many job opportunities in the education sector. We need more Singaporeans to come forward and take on these jobs so that we can develop and expand the preschool education industry.

4.   Besides attracting enough people to take on these jobs, we also need to ensure that they are qualified and competent to meet the rising expectations of our parents. Pre-school teachers and principals need to acquire up-to-date skills and knowledge to perform their roles effectively. This is where continuing education and training, or CET, comes in.

Systematic Skills Upgrading in the Pre-School Sector

5.   To encourage continual skills upgrading and facilitate career progression, the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) has worked with industry players to put in place a Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) framework for the pre-school sector. Trainees who successfully complete WSQ training programmes will receive WSQ Certificates, Advanced Certificates, or Professional and Specialist Diplomas in Early Childhood Care and Education. These certifications are based on standards developed and endorsed by the industry. This ensures that skills acquired by the trainees will meet the needs of employers.

6.   I understand that RTRC Asia is the first major pre-school training provider to adopt the WSQ framework. Established in 1989, RTRC Asia offers a comprehensive range of certificate, diploma and degree programmes in early childhood education in partnership with Wheelock College in the US and the University of South Australia. Since 2007, RTRC Asia has been delivering the WSQ Professional Diploma and Specialist Diploma programmes in Early Childhood Education for pre-school principals. It has also been working closely with our Institutes of Higher Learning and pre-school operators such as PAP Community Foundation (PCF) to provide customised WSQ training to teachers.

7.   In view of RTRC Asia's established track record as a leading training provider in the sector and its proven ability to deliver quality WSQ training and assessment, WDA will be appointing them as a CET Centre in the Early Childhood Care and Education sector. As a CET Centre, RTRC Asia will step up its training facilities for the sector. It will also take on the additional role of providing career advisory and job placement services to its trainees. RTRC Asia will work closely with NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute on this.

Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR)

8.   A few weeks ago, MOM, together with NTUC and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), launched the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience initiative, or SPUR for short. By providing enhanced funding support to employers and workers on training, SPUR aims to help them manage the economic downturn as well as strengthen their capabilities for the future.

9.   Under SPUR, professionals from other sectors who are keen to enter the pre-school sector can receive course fee support and training allowance while they undergo relevant training before they make the transition. By supporting such “conversions”, we hope to attract more Singaporeans to the pre-school sector.

10.   Ms Mona Tan Choo Neo is a good example. With a diverse career background in the aviation and fashion industry, Ms Tan made the switch to the pre-school sector 12 years ago by first taking up a foundation course with RTRC Asia. Today, she is the Vice President of Curriculum, Training and Standards at Cherie Hearts Group International. True to the spirit of lifelong learning, Ms Tan is now pursuing a Master degree with RTRC Asia to further equip herself with relevant knowledge and skills needed in her work.

11.   Ms Mona Tan is a successful model of mid career conversion to the pre-school sector. The sector offers many job opportunities even in these difficult economic times. With the appointment of RTRC Asia as a CET Centre for this sector and the introduction of SPUR, I hope we can attract more mid-career Singaporeans like Mona to join the sector.

Conclusion

12.   The graduates who are here today will enjoy a meaningful and exciting future. Your training at RTRC Asia has prepared you well for your roles as pre-school teachers and principals. I encourage you to continue to capitalise on the skills upgrading opportunities that WDA and the industry are offering to help you stay relevant throughout your careers.

13.   Once again, congratulations and thank you.