New masterplan for pre-school teachers offers incentives to train and upgrade skills

Incentives, including bonuses, to encourage pre-school teachers to continue training and upgrading are among features that will be introduced under a new masterplan that was announced by Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing on We
Incentives, including bonuses, to encourage pre-school teachers to continue training and upgrading are among features that will be introduced under a new masterplan that was announced by Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing on Wednesday. -- ST FILE PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

Incentives, including bonuses, to encourage pre-school teachers to continue training and upgrading are among features that will be introduced under a new masterplan that was announced by Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing on Wednesday.

The new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Masterplan will be a structured roadmap outlining key responsibilities for teachers and supervisors or principals. Staff would have to complete specified courses to move ahead in the teaching and leadership pathways of the roadmap, and the authorities will set out guidelines on the recommended amount of CPD training for each teacher per year.

Incentives will be given to those who meet the recommended amount of CPD training. This could include bonuses tied to their CPD training and expanded job roles.

Mr Chan, speaking at the Early Childhood Conference at the Singapore Expo, said the CPD Masterplan is part of the manpower strategies to attract and retain pre-school professionals, and to raise the quality of programmes.

The Early Childhood Development Agency will also explore support measures to help pre-school operators who may find it difficult to release staff for training due to the manpower crunch. Among the options is the establishing of a pool of trained relief teachers which will allow for more flexible staffing requirements on days set aside for CPD.

More details on the manpower strategies will be given next year.

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