Parliament: Pay more attention to early childhood education: Lim Wee Kiak

More attention should be paid to the early childhood education sector, said Mr Lim Wee Kiak (Nee Soon GRC) in Parliament on Thursday. -- ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
More attention should be paid to the early childhood education sector, said Mr Lim Wee Kiak (Nee Soon GRC) in Parliament on Thursday. -- ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

SINGAPORE - More attention should be paid to the early childhood education sector, said Mr Lim Wee Kiak (Nee Soon GRC) in Parliament on Thursday.

These facilities should be given similar priority as primary and secondary schools when HDB town plans are drawn up, he said.

Young Singaporeans who aspire to be early childhood educators should also be given the same recognition as teachers in primary and secondary schools, he added.

"The common misconception that pre-school teachers double as nannies must be addressed."

He also called for a level playing field in the early childhood education sector to "give all children in Singapore regardless of socioeconomic background a good head start with a good preschool education".

The disparity in fees between childcare centres and pre-schools run by private providers, and those run by the Government "create an unease in the minds of many parents with young children", said Mr Lim.

He also suggested that a Parliamentary Secretary or Minister of State should be appointed to oversee early childhood education.

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