More development opportunities are on the cards for new entrants as well as those already working in the early childhood sector.

The Early Childhood and Development Agency is looking into enhancing internships for full-time polytechnic and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) students in the early childhood care and education course. This includes introducing more structured learning outcomes, providing mentorship and extending the duration of the internship from three months to six.

Criteria for the modular Polytechnic Continuing Education and Training diploma will also be relaxed so those with a certificate in early childhood care and education or an ITE Higher Nitec in early childhood education can apply for the course. Currently, having an O-Level certificate with passes in five subjects is a requirement.

The course will also recognise the skills and competencies of those who have had prior job experience or had received training in the sector. They will be able to drop up to 25 per cent of the course hours, significantly shortening the time needed for them to receive their diplomas.

For Ms Aini Mohammed Ayum, who has worked at Al-istiqamah Mosque Kindergarten for close to two years, the news came as a relief. A holder of an ITE Higher Nitec in early childhood education, she has been trying to obtain her diploma since she joined the sector four years ago, but the criteria requiring five O-Level passes had hindered her progress.

“I really felt hopeless ... as I could not go to polytechnic and had no confidence in scoring well for my O-Levels,” said the 22-year-old. “With this in place, I feel really hopeful about fulfilling my aspiration ... to become a principal one day.” TAN SHI WEI