Policy Developments in Pre-School Education in Singapore: A Focus on the Key Reforms of Kindergarten Education
Tóm tắt
Since 2000, the pre-school landscape in Singapore has been evolving and changing more rapidly than before. The interest of raising the quality of pre-school education is evident in the introduction of new policies and implementation of new initiatives in the last six years. These policy developments have resulted in significant changes in various aspects of the quality standards of pre-school education in Singapore. This paper presents the context of pre-school education policy and practice in Singapore and highlights recent key reforms introduced by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in order to promote quality kindergarten education.
Từ khóa
Tài liệu tham khảo
American Educational Research Association. (2005, Fall). Early childhood education: Investing in quality makes sense. Research Points, 3(2). Retrieved from http://www.aera.net/uploadedFiles/Journals_and_Publications/Research_Points/RPFall05.pdf
Bailey, D. B. (2002). Are critical periods critical for early childhood education? The role of timing in early childhood pedagogy. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 17, 281–294.
Boots, S. W. (2005, December). Building a 21st century economy: The case for investing in early education reform. New America Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.newamerica.net/Download_Docs/pdfs/Doc_File_2772_1.pdf
Cotton, K., & Faires-Conklin, N. (2001). Research on early childhood education. National Regional Educational Laboratory. Retrieved from http://www.nwrel.org/scpd/sirs/3/topsyn3.html.
Department of Statistics Singapore. (2007). Yearbook of statistics Singapore 2006. National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Retrieved from http://www.singstat.gov.sg/pubn/reference/yos/statsT-demography.pdf
Plucker, J. (2002). The flynn effect. Human Intelligence. Retrieved from http://www.indiana.edu/∼intell/flynneffect.shtml
Karoly, L. A., & Bigelow, J. H. (2005). The economics of investing in universal preschool education in California. RAND Corporation. Retrieved from http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2005/RAND_MG349.pdf
Khoo, K. C. (2004, June). Inter-ministerial collaboration in early childhood training in Singapore. UNESCO Policy Brief on Early Childhood. Retrieved from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001374/137413e.pdf
Lee, H. L. (2004, August 22). Prime minister Lee Hsien Loong’s national day rally speech 2004. National Archives of Singapore. Retrieved from http://stars.nhb.gov.sg/stars/public/viewHTML.jsp?pdfno=2004083101
Ministry of Education, Singapore. (2000, December 18). New framework for pre-school teacher-training and accreditation. Press release. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/press/2000/pr18122000_print.htm
Ministry of Education, Singapore. (2001, October 8). Pre-school recurrent grants to help kindergartens get better qualified kindergarten teachers and financial assistance. Press release. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/press/2001/pr08102001_print.htm
Ministry of Education, Singapore. (2006). Education statistics digest 2006. Moulding the Future of our Notion. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/esd/ESD2006.pdf
Schweinhart, L. J. (2005). The high/scope perry preschool study through age 40: summary, conclusions and frequently asked questions. High Scope. Retrieved from http://www.highscope.org/Research/PerryPreschool/PerryAge40SumWeb.pdf
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (2001). Starting strong- early childhood education and care. France: OECD Publications
Wertheimer, R., & Croan, T. (2003). Attending kindergarten and already behind: A statistical portrait of vulnerable young children. Child Trends Research Brief. Washington, DC: Child Trends. Retrieved from http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2003_12_01_RB_AttendKiga.pdf
Wong, A. (2000, March 14). Committee of supply debate FY2000, senior minister of state for education, Dr Wong’s responses to questions on pre-school education. Ministry of Education, Singapore. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/speeches/2000/sp14032000a_print.htm
Zigler, E., & Styfco, S. J. (2003). The Federal commitment to preschool education: Lessons from and for head start. In A. J. Reynolds, M. C. Wang, & H. J. Walberg (Eds.) Early childhood programs for a new century. Washington DC: CWLA Press.
Zulkifli, M. (2006). Speech by senior parliamentary secretary (education) Mr Masagos Zulkifli BMM, for opening of parliament (2006, November 8–14). Ministry of Education, Singapore. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/speeches/2006/sp20061108.htm