Exclusive Corporate Class Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education Course 5 July 2008 (Sat) 2pm – 3pm

1. WELCOME Exclusive Corporate Class Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education Course 5 July 2008 (Sat) 2pm – 3pm

2. Outline of Talk • Background info of RTRC Asia • Changes & Update on PQAC Requirements • Pathways in Early Childhood Education • Course Information Objectives • Teaching Methodology of RTRC Asia • Funding Schemes & Application Procedures

3. About RTRC Asia Training and Consultancy Arm of NTUC Childcare Co-operative Ltd The firstof such regional training centres set up in 1989 to train the early childhood professionals both locally and in the region.

4. Vision and Mission • Enhance quality of care and education of young children • Through quality teacher education • Support early childhood professionals and others working with children • Providing pathways for professional development

5. 6 • Well-equipped training rooms RTRC Asia (Facilities) The Caterpillar’s Cove Training Rooms Resource Library • Specialized library • with more than 15,000 titles of books, periodicals, journals, children’s literature and teaching resources • Located at Ngee Ann Poly • Child Development & Study Centre • Provide childcare services for 1.5 yrs old to 6 yrs old

6. Partners of RTRC Asia (Academic Programmes) Wheelock College, Boston, USA - Offer BSc/MSc programmes - Validate DPT course University of South Australia - Offer BEd/ MEd programmes Ngee Ann Polytechnic - Collaborate to teach full time Diploma in Early Childhood Education on campus in Ngee Ann Poly - Co-teach involvement in the full Time Bachelor degree programme awarded by Wheelock College

7. RTRC Asia FacultyTeam Faculty Team Ms Ruth Wong - Assistant Director Ms Lynn Heng – Assistant Director Mrs Geraldine Zuzarte – Assistant Director Ms Sukuna Suppiah – Senior Training Specialist We have a team of 8 experienced full-time Training Specialists and a pool of close to 20 Associate Trainers in the early childhood field.

8. RTRC Asia Faculty • Highly qualified multi-disciplinary team of full time training specialists with years of early childhood experience working with children, parents and the community. • Their professional working experiences span teaching and supervision in early childhood programmes, including special needs education to parent education and social work. • In addition, we also have a pool of Associate Lecturers (part time) who are also actively involved in training our students in the certificate and diploma programmes. • All the lecturers are accredited by MOE and MCYS and certified to teach our programmes. Lecturers who are teaching at Diploma level programmes must hold at least a Masters level qualification.

9. MOE & MCYS Requirements • In January 2001, the Pre-school Qualification Accreditation Committee (PQAC) was set up to oversee the standards and quality of pre-school teacher training for both kindergarten and child care sectors in Singapore. This is jointly steered by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS).  The various levels of training are planned to cater to the different needs of the teachers and to prepare them for leadership in the sector. • In April 2008, PQAC raised the teachers qualification to teach K1 and K2 level children from the current minimum CPT qualification level to DPT qualification level. In addition each childcare centre or kindergarten should have at least 75% of all its teachers trained at DPT level by Jan 2013

10. Reasons for PQAC Revised changes • To raise the overall quality of the pre-school teaching force over time, hence will uplift the professional image of pre-school teaching force. • Teaching has become more complex over the years. Pre-School teachers are required to design curriculum and also be effective facilitator in the classroom to develop children’s social and emotional competencies. Raising the qualifications will better ensure that teachers fulfill the more complex roles  The education profile of our population has also shifted over time. Parents are better educated and have higher expectations of the standard of pre-school education for their children

11. Qualifications and Levels to teach for Existing Teachers * Existing teachers refer to teachers who are currently employed by Childcare Centres or kindergartens and registered with MOE or MCYS by 31 Dec 2008

12. DPT Entrance Requirements for Existing Teachers for English Language Requirement * Existing teachers refer to teachers who are currently employed by Childcare Centres or kindergartens and registered with MOE or MCYS by 31 Dec 2008

13. DPT Entrance Requirements for New Teachers* for English Language Requirement * New teachers refer to new entrants to the sector. They would been registered with MOE or MCYS on or after 1 Jan 2009 onwards

14. Revised PQAC Requirements * Existing teachers refer to teachers who are currently employed by Childcare Centres or kindergartens and registered with MOE or MCYS by 31 Dec 2008

15. Revised Training Hours and Revised Course Name from 1 Jan 2009

16. PATHWAYS TO PROFESSIONALISM Master of Education / Science (Early Childhood Education) 5 GCE ‘O’ Level Credits Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education Certificate in Pre-school Teaching 3 GCE ‘O’ Level Credits Diploma in Pre-school Education – Leadership Polytechnic Diploma Bach. Of Education/ Bach. Of Science (ECE) MOE & MCYS Framework Specialist Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education Degree in other Discipline MOE & MCYS Framework

17. Q & A

18. Courses Available at RTRC Asia  Certificate in Pre-School Teaching (English / Chinese)  Certificate in Infant/Toddler Care & Development (English / Chinese)  Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education (English) – Validated by Wheelock College, Boston (USA)  Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education (Chinese)  Diploma in Pre-School Education Leadership -

19. Courses Available at RTRC Asia  Specialist Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education - Accredited by MOE & MCYS  Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) Honours - Awarded by University of South Australia  Bachelor of Science (Early Childhood Education) - Awarded by Wheelock College, Boston (USA)  Master of Education (Early Childhood Education) - Awarded by University of South Australia  Master of Science (Early Childhood Education) - Awarded by Wheelock College, Boston (USA)

20. Objectives of Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education  Apply the theories to practices that provide wide-ranging, multi-media and developmentally appropriate experiences to young children;  Develop skills in observing, recording and interpreting children’s behaviour and interaction with the environment;  Design, implement and evaluate a child-centred and play-based curriculum that integrates that various subject areas;  Develop knowledge of models of parent involvement and skills in working with parents

22. DPT Course Assessment • Individual Assignments • Group Assignments • Written Tests/Exam for some modules only

23. Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education Admission Requirements for Existing Teachers • CPT (470 hours) qualification and 3 GCE ‘O” level credits (including credit in English at EL1) OR (2) Minimum of 5 GCE ‘O’ level credits (including credit in English – EL1) Existing Teachers = Registered with MOE or MCYS by 31 Dec 2008

24. Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education Admission Requirements for New Teachers • Minimum of 5 GCE ‘O’ level credits (including credit in English – EL1 at B4 grade) New Teachers = Registered with MOE or MCYS from 1 Jan 2009 onwards * If student do not have a B4 grade in English, a minimum band 6.5 obtained in IELTS (general training) must be obtained

25. Teaching Methodology Hands-on Approach/ Theory to Applications

26. Learning through experimenting in a group

27. Class Presentations/ Demonstrations

28. Group Project/ Setting up simulated environment in the classroom

29. Assignments – Toys designed & made by our Students

30. Finger Puppets for storytelling Masks for role play

31. Comparative Advantages of Studying in RTRC Asia • Hands-on Teaching Methodologies, students are able to apply their knowledge to centre settings • Class sessions comprise of small group discussions, experimentation of activities, informal presentations and setting up learning environment • Twice-weekly Class schedule suits working individuals • Central location in city area • Exclusive corporate rates for ESU members only • Monthly instalment plan (interest-free) for unfunded course fees for SEP applicants

32. Commencement Date (Part time Evening) Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education (DPT) 23 Sep 2008 to 31 Oct 2010 (2 yrs) Every Tue and Thu (6.30pm to 9.30pm/10pm) $7,757.50 (including 7% GST) Registration Deadline – 8 Aug 2008

33. Commencement Date (Part time Afternoon) Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education (DPT) 21 Oct 2008 to 30 Nov 2010 (2 yrs) Every Tue and Thu (2pm to 5pm/6pm) $7,757.50 (including 7% GST) Registration Deadline – 2 Sep 2008

34. Funding Schemes SDF / SRP Subsidy (via Company-sponsor) • Employed by a childcare centre/ Kindergarten/ preschool centre • Under company payroll NTUC-SEP Subsidy (individual)  NTUC Union member  Gainfully Employed  Submission of application 30 days before course commencement

35. NORMAL FUNDING for part-time courses 80% of course fees (exclude GST) OR $7 per training hr (fund lower amt)  40 yrs & below ; OR  40 yrs & above with Diploma qualifications & above (B) ENHANCED FUNDING for part-time courses 90% of course fees (exclude GST) OR $11 per training hr (fund lower amt) 40 yrs & above with ‘0’/’A’ level qualifications & below

36. Application Procedures Submit application by hand or mail the following documents to RTRC Asia before the registration deadline :- • Course Application form • “O” level Cert / CPT Cert (if any) or other relevant qualification docs • Registration Fee of $53.50

37. Contact Persons For Course Enquiries, please contact :- Wendy Loh @ 6332 2535 or email lohll@rtrc-asia.com or info@rtrc-asia.com For Education Services Union Membership, please contact :- Marilyn Chew @ 6872 1148 or email chewbl@ntuc.org.sg

38. THANK YOU