Singapore Case Study for NCEE 01-25-19
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e Early h l Case Studies na of E A atio ar Trn ly d te Ch In il dh v o o d a E d u n c a t io t n a a n d g C a r e e S y s t e m s EvolvingResponsive a HarmonizedIntegrated Policymaking and Hybrid andUniversal Implementation:System of ECEC: Maintaining the Reform Momentum RespectingEarlyAFrom Careful Childhood Equality Children Balancing to Services:and Equity ActFamilies Using Data for Improvement HongSingaporeAustraliaEnglandFinland Kong Evolving a Harmonized Hybrid System of ECEC: A Careful Balancing Act A Case Study of the Singapore Early Childhood Education and Care System Rebecca Bull, Alfredo Bautista, Hairon Salleh, and Nirmala Karuppiah October 5, 2018 CopyrightÓ 2018 Teachers College All rights reserved Contents Executive Summary 1 Part 1 Introduction 7 Chapter 1: Study Overview .......................................................................................... 8 Rationale and Goals ................................................................................................... 8 Study Architecture ................................................................................................... 11 Methodology ............................................................................................................. 16 Definitions and Abbreviations ................................................................................ 21 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................. 23 Part 2 General Country Context 25 Chapter 2: Country Background ................................................................................ 26 Key Points ................................................................................................................. 26 Historical Context ..................................................................................................... 26 Geographic/Demographic Context ........................................................................ 30 Socio-Cultural Context ............................................................................................. 31 Political Context........................................................................................................ 32 Welfare and Social Policy Context .......................................................................... 35 Socio-Economic Context .......................................................................................... 36 Educational Context (Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary) ..................................... 39 Policy Process ........................................................................................................... 44 Page i www.ncee.org/EarlyAdvantage Chapter 3: Conditions of Young Children ............................................................... 47 Key Points ................................................................................................................. 47 Demographic Data on Young Children .................................................................. 47 Percentages of Children Defined as Special Populations ..................................... 50 Percentages of Children Living in Poverty and Specific Family Circumstances ........................................................................................................... 52 Chapter 4: Policies Related to Young Children and Their Families ..................... 55 Key Points ................................................................................................................. 55 Legal Documents That Frame Service Delivery .................................................... 55 Policy Frameworks and Visions .............................................................................. 60 Stated Policy Aims ................................................................................................... 64 Major Policy Changes .............................................................................................. 66 Part 3 Direct Services for Young Children 70 Chapter 5: Nature of General Services for Young Children .................................. 71 Key Points ................................................................................................................. 71 Nature of ECEC Services Provided ......................................................................... 72 Organization of Above Services .............................................................................. 88 Chapter 6: Nature of ECEC Services ......................................................................... 90 Key Points ................................................................................................................. 90 Nature of ECEC Services Provided ......................................................................... 90 Boundary Spanning Mechanisms ......................................................................... 100 Page ii www.ncee.org/EarlyAdvantage Enrollments in ECEC Services ............................................................................... 101 Part 4 Systemic Outputs: Fostering Quality Services 103 Chapter 7: Pedagogical Approaches and Curriculum .......................................... 104 Key Points ............................................................................................................... 104 Curriculum and Pedagogical Approaches ........................................................... 104 Historical Evolution of Curricular/Pedagogical Approaches ............................ 110 Framework Documents that Influence Curriculum ............................................ 112 Nature/Content of Curriculum ............................................................................ 113 Use of Time and Space ........................................................................................... 115 Diversity and Cultural Responsiveness ............................................................... 118 Provision for Special Populations ......................................................................... 118 Transitions within Settings .................................................................................... 121 Innovations ............................................................................................................. 122 Contributions to Quality ........................................................................................ 124 Challenges ............................................................................................................... 124 Chapter 8: Children’s Development: Goals, Standards, Assessment, and Accountability ........................................................................................................... 127 Key Points ............................................................................................................... 127 Early Learning and Development Standards ....................................................... 128 Box 8.1...................................................................................................................... 129 Box 8.2...................................................................................................................... 130 Page iii www.ncee.org/EarlyAdvantage Health Standards .................................................................................................... 133 Assessment, Data, and Accountability ................................................................. 136 Innovations ............................................................................................................. 139 Contributions to Quality ........................................................................................ 140 Challenges ............................................................................................................... 141 Chapter 9: Program Quality: Standards, Inspection, and Improvement ........... 142 Key Points ............................................................................................................... 142 Program Regulations.............................................................................................. 142 External Inspection (Monitoring) Regulations..................................................... 145 Uses of External Inspection Data .......................................................................... 149 Innovations ............................................................................................................. 153 Contributions to Quality ........................................................................................ 154 Challenges ............................................................................................................... 154 Chapter 10: Professional Preparation and Development .................................... 156 Key Points ............................................................................................................... 156 Overview of the Teaching Workforce ................................................................... 157 Statutory Requirements for Working with Young Children .............................. 160 Organization of Work Responsibilities................................................................. 165 Professional Preparation (Pre-Service) ................................................................. 167 Professional Development (In-Service) ................................................................ 169