<![CDATA[Quality manpower in childcare needed]]>http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1131878/1/.html


Do we need to further improve the \"quality\"? Share your views?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/22668/quality-manpower-in-childcare-neededRSS for NodeTue, 21 Apr 2026 02:20:55 GMTMon, 30 May 2011 11:33:28 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Quality manpower in childcare needed on Sun, 05 Jun 2011 12:44:30 GMT]]>I think most graduates take CC as stepping stone. Once they have enough experience, they set up enrichment classes.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/437687https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/437687Sun, 05 Jun 2011 12:44:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Quality manpower in childcare needed on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 06:04:54 GMT]]>

kwokwc:
WCW:

[quote=\"Vevey\"]Why do so many kids need to go childcare? Why can't more kids b taken care of by own parent, grandparents, relatives, nannies etc & go to a half-day pre-school instead? That would immediately ease the stress onto the childcare infrastructure.

not everyone is lucky to have support from family on looking after their kids. most people married at a later age, and by the time they have children, their parents will be too old to look after grand-children.
And not all grand-parents like to take care of grand-children.

moreover, with Sg's high standard of living, it is very difficult to have one parent working to support the whole family.

Totally agree. With sg's high standard of living, it is very difficult to have one parent working to support the whole family.[/quote]Precisely, I m not talking abt everyone. I'm talking abt those who could, should b encouraged/rewarded w the childcare subsidy to find alternative childcare arrangement, so that the stress on the current infrastructure can be eased.

At a count, I have 5 working female friends who \"envy\" me for years & want to be a SAHM but so far only 1 managed to be one for a year. She returned to workforce as she doesn't like to b financially dependent & it was stressful to take care of 2 young kids at home alone.

Another couldn't bcos her monthly condo loan can't be serviced by CPF of a single income. She had married when in her 30s, so were unable to buy directly from HDB bcos of the income ceiling. At that pt, she wanted condo facilities & thought it was not worthwhile to buy a resale flat near her parents' place.

1 decided to take up a degree course sponsored by her co. & would hv to serve bonds after that. Another 2 got a job promotion/changed job & they said \"can't bear to forgo the $ & branded goods\" (quoting them).

All send some/all their kids to childcare even tho 1 used to have a v good bbsitter but switched bcos of cheaper total (childcare+education) cost after subsidies.

1 has maid at own home to care for 2 older kids & 3 have maids helping out at grandparents' to take care of kids but still send them to childcare instead of half day kindergartens bcos it's more worthwhile after taking subsidies into consideration.

Imagine, if some or all of these 7 pre-schoolers in these 5 families were in half day pre-school (2 batches of students in a day) instead, the no. of places that would hv freed up in childcare centres. Every bit counts.

So the govt can encourage/reward those who could, to find alternative care.

OT, single income supporting the whole family is not easy but this is a life choice of kids vs needs vs wants. Every choice comes w its own sacrifices. 🆒

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/436325https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/436325Fri, 03 Jun 2011 06:04:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Quality manpower in childcare needed on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 08:29:32 GMT]]>

Oppsgal:
khk:

I agreed with Nebbermind......beside teaching, how many graduates are willing to help change diapers, shower and make milk for those cute tiny tots? With the low starting salary of less than 2k n high expectations of parents, would someone who hold a degree or diploma really want to work in this line? I would say very few.


Not sure what high expectation of parents mean? Maybe have more teachers so can take over the load of the teachers? too many toddlers to one teacher is stressful.

Personally I find that the ratio of 1:8 seems quite stressful for teachers. dd2 is in a childcare with quite a number of kids, sometimes, I find that teachers are a bit short-handed. Especially when need to bring 1-2 kids to the toilet. Then left with 1 teacher to see the rest of the kids (more than 10 of them). Not easy.

Actually I don't think for childcare teachers need to have very high qualifications. To me, the most important thing is the passion to love kids. In fact, I have seen a teacher with degree who become a childcare teacher, at the end of the day, is just to get the diploma so that she can be a qualified supervisor and then she can run her own childcare and not pay other for the role. She is quite frank that she doesn't like kids at all, she just want to earn the $$. Sad 😢

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/435626https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/435626Thu, 02 Jun 2011 08:29:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Quality manpower in childcare needed on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 08:02:55 GMT]]>

khk:
I agreed with Nebbermind......beside teaching, how many graduates are willing to help change diapers, shower and make milk for those cute tiny tots? With the low starting salary of less than 2k n high expectations of parents, would someone who hold a degree or diploma really want to work in this line? I would say very few.

Not sure what high expectation of parents mean? Maybe have more teachers so can take over the load of the teachers? too many toddlers to one teacher is stressful.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/435588https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/435588Thu, 02 Jun 2011 08:02:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Quality manpower in childcare needed on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 07:42:41 GMT]]>I agreed with Nebbermind…beside teaching, how many graduates are willing to help change diapers, shower and make milk for those cute tiny tots? With the low starting salary of less than 2k n high expectations of parents, would someone who hold a degree or diploma really want to work in this line? I would say very few.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/435577https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/435577Thu, 02 Jun 2011 07:42:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Quality manpower in childcare needed on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 07:36:18 GMT]]>CC teachers are not a sought-after job. Just imagine, for the younger classes like the toddlers and pre-nursery classes, the teachers spend significant time changing diapers and wiping the floor when the kids wet or soil the place… then have to bathe them, feed them, let them sleep, and also teach them…


All these, and they are not paid much. Why? because unlike govt schools, CCs are not given govt grants (except those PAP, NTUC ones i think), so all costs (food, utilities, rental, equipments, furniture, salary, etc.) come from the school fees. So there is not much $$ to be paid as salary. The CC teachers also are not inspired to upgrade themselves to in turn earn more (because they know they will not be paid much more no matter what).

So the educated will not take up such low-paying (and low esteem) jobs, and the ones who remain there do not have high aspirations. Those who are upward-looking, would generally move out/away from the line.

sigh…

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434661https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434661Wed, 01 Jun 2011 07:36:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Quality manpower in childcare needed on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 04:50:18 GMT]]>One of the problems is while govt want people to be more productive but yet they insist that every class must be taken by a qualified teacher at any one time. For the N2 onwards, yes, there is a need for the teachers to be qualified but for the todds and N1, to place a qualified teacher at all times to care for 6-8 kids to 1 class is not cost effective nor productive as the teacher will spend 1/2 her time doing toileting. However, the dynamics changes if they were to allow up to 10-12 kids to 1 qualified tchr + 1 asst for the Todd, N1 age grp. The teacher can fully concentrate on teaching and activities with the asst, helping with new kids and toileting as well as some hands on activities. And with 2 pairs of eyes and hands guiding the kids, even though 10-12 kids, definitely beats 1 pair of eyes and hands to 8 kids. And seriously speaking, 1 person to 8 todds physically demanding and mentally draining. That is why not many teachers want to take the younger classes.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434502https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434502Wed, 01 Jun 2011 04:50:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Quality manpower in childcare needed on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:24:35 GMT]]>is this the reason why most of the CC teachers are all foreigners from PRC, phillippines, india etc…


seems for locals mostly malays & indians. one of the cc in my neighbourhood, all the CL teachers are from PRC ( u can distinguish from their accent), then the EL ones are malays & indians. i dun see Singaporean Chinese, maybe only the aunty who cooks.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434413https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434413Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:24:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Quality manpower in childcare needed on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:13:01 GMT]]>

khk:
Good childcare teachers are not easy to find. Fresh graduates expect high salary even with little or no experience n most do not display good working attitude. With so much expectations from moe, many good teachers have left the industry or become assistant teachers instead as only those with diploma are qualified to teach k1 n k2, therefore very experience teachers(with only cpt cert)who used to teach these level but without diploma cert has gone down to teach at nursery level n below.

seriously, how many graduates would wanna be caregiveres to tiny tots? Alot of moms also find it hard to cope at home with young chldren, so much so they wana go back to work. Imagine having 20 or so kids demanding all sorts of attention!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434395https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434395Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:13:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Quality manpower in childcare needed on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:06:28 GMT]]>

khk:
Good childcare teachers are not easy to find. Fresh graduates expect high salary even with little or no experience n most do not display good working attitude. With so much expectations from moe, many good teachers have left the industry or become assistant teachers instead as only those with diploma are qualified to teach k1 n k2, therefore very experience teachers(with only cpt cert)who used to teach these level but without diploma cert has gone down to teach at nursery level n below.

Yes, my sister graduated from uni mid last yr. Only get a job recently. She and her bf thinks that 2.8k for her job pays peanut. I think she is expecting at least 3.5k. Nothing much to say, just that I think the govt has painted the picture so nicely that now expectation of pay is very very high.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434385https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434385Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:06:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Quality manpower in childcare needed on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:01:25 GMT]]>This is the result of an educational system that cherry picks the best and makes them really best… widening the gap between good and no good. We really should be levelling everyone up so that everyone can be good… the gap between best and worst is small, and the overall average of worker quality is high.


It’s about resource distribution so that everyone is helped to a high level, instead of some people helped to a VERY HIGH level… and the rest are considered not good enough so we teach them less, expect less and respect less.

What we do in schools affect manpower issues of tomorrow.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434373https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434373Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:01:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Quality manpower in childcare needed on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 02:50:04 GMT]]>Good childcare teachers are not easy to find. Fresh graduates expect high salary even with little or no experience n most do not display good working attitude. With so much expectations from moe, many good teachers have left the industry or become assistant teachers instead as only those with diploma are qualified to teach k1 n k2, therefore very experience teachers(with only cpt cert)who used to teach these level but without diploma cert has gone down to teach at nursery level n below.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434356https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434356Wed, 01 Jun 2011 02:50:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Quality manpower in childcare needed on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 02:28:25 GMT]]>

kwokwc:
Totally agree. With sg's high standard of living, it is very difficult to have one parent working to support the whole family.

just yest, i was in this cab & the driver lamented abt the high cost of living in Spore. He said he's the only adt working & he has 2 young child still in pri sch.

then talk abt his wife who is from indonesia has been persuading him to go back Indonesia & continue-ing working there instead. He will not be so xin ku.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434326https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434326Wed, 01 Jun 2011 02:28:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Quality manpower in childcare needed on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 02:15:41 GMT]]>

WCW:
Vevey:

Why do so many kids need to go childcare? Why can't more kids b taken care of by own parent, grandparents, relatives, nannies etc & go to a half-day pre-school instead? That would immediately ease the stress onto the childcare infrastructure.

not everyone is lucky to have support from family on looking after their kids. most people married at a later age, and by the time they have children, their parents will be too old to look after grand-children.
And not all grand-parents like to take care of grand-children.

moreover, with Sg's high standard of living, it is very difficult to have one parent working to support the whole family.

Totally agree. With sg's high standard of living, it is very difficult to have one parent working to support the whole family.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434315https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434315Wed, 01 Jun 2011 02:15:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Quality manpower in childcare needed on Tue, 31 May 2011 11:01:13 GMT]]>

Vevey:
Why do so many kids need to go childcare? Why can't more kids b taken care of by own parent, grandparents, relatives, nannies etc & go to a half-day pre-school instead? That would immediately ease the stress onto the childcare infrastructure.


There r many economic & social issues involved & needed to b seriously addressed. However, 1st thing 1st: the govt shld recognise the contribution of stay-at-home-parents. It shld also encourage parents to turn back to their network for childcare solutions when they could. For e.g. it is common that the lack of childcare subsidy is part of the consideration when deciding between nanny & childcare centre. This would reduce the current stress on the childcare infrastructure almost immediately & buy some time to beef up the staff.

Since removing childcare subsidy would b an unpopular move, the govt could consider \"rewarding\" parents who r not utilising (stressing) the childcare infrastructure w an amt equivalent to the subsidy a child would hv enjoyed if s/he went to a childcare centre. This could b in the form of tax rebates to parents (not just working mums), credits to CDA, cash payout etc.

Once demand eases & w adequate (govt & commercial) supply, the pricing would b more competitive (hopefully).
I am \"rewarded\" with a lesser subsidy for being SAHM. :idea:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434057https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434057Tue, 31 May 2011 11:01:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Quality manpower in childcare needed on Tue, 31 May 2011 10:59:27 GMT]]>Anyone write to their facebook?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434056https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434056Tue, 31 May 2011 10:59:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Quality manpower in childcare needed on Tue, 31 May 2011 10:03:04 GMT]]>Why do so many kids need to go childcare? Why can’t more kids b taken care of by own parent, grandparents, relatives, nannies etc & go to a half-day pre-school instead? That would immediately ease the stress onto the childcare infrastructure.


There r many economic & social issues involved & needed to b seriously addressed. However, 1st thing 1st: the govt shld recognise the contribution of stay-at-home-parents. It shld also encourage parents to turn back to their network for childcare solutions when they could. For e.g. it is common that the lack of childcare subsidy is part of the consideration when deciding between nanny & childcare centre. This would reduce the current stress on the childcare infrastructure almost immediately & buy some time to beef up the staff.

Since removing childcare subsidy would b an unpopular move, the govt could consider "rewarding" parents who r not utilising (stressing) the childcare infrastructure w an amt equivalent to the subsidy a child would hv enjoyed if s/he went to a childcare centre. This could b in the form of tax rebates to parents (not just working mums), credits to CDA, cash payout etc.

Once demand eases & w adequate (govt & commercial) supply, the pricing would b more competitive (hopefully).

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434017https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/434017Tue, 31 May 2011 10:03:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Quality manpower in childcare needed on Tue, 31 May 2011 07:28:40 GMT]]>

WCW:
getting teachers fr India, does it mean children here will be taught better things? India degree are better than Sg? imagine we have to pay 20K or more for a degree, end up those fr India pay 2K for a degree and get the same salary as us. then we can go stay in India and come back Sg as FT

that's why my friend was lamenting to me after pushing our kids to study so hard with tuition thrown in and eventually still have to fight for a place in u and in the job market :oops: :oops: :slapshead: :stupid:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/433838https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/433838Tue, 31 May 2011 07:28:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Quality manpower in childcare needed on Tue, 31 May 2011 06:26:38 GMT]]>

Oppsgal:
But the school fees parents are paying are pretty high.


Why salary of teachers are low?
Bcos childcare is profit-centre. So their main purpose is to earn money. And there are certain expenses that any business need to cater, such as rental, electricity bills, SC&C, so must cater to all these.

Not too sure how to improve the quality of manpower. See, when MOE say even primary school teacher should have degree, we start to see MOE going to India to get teachers, so not sure if govt pass such rules, what is going to happen to cc?

Just wondering, is it that now, those nannies must go for training first before they can look after small kids? Must say, sometimes, these aunties are doing better job in looking after kids than cc. In cc, they are teaching more and kids are more independent.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/433773https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/433773Tue, 31 May 2011 06:26:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Quality manpower in childcare needed on Tue, 31 May 2011 05:39:02 GMT]]>But the school fees parents are paying are pretty high.


Why salary of teachers are low?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/433722https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/433722Tue, 31 May 2011 05:39:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Quality manpower in childcare needed on Tue, 31 May 2011 01:31:35 GMT]]>the childcare teachers are paid v little, so there are not many good teachers who will be willing to teach there. at my son’s cc, got a few mainland chinese, one malaysian (who left recently), one malay auntie in her 50s (whose motivation is she stays nearby), a singaporean supervisor (who just left), one more singaporean and lately a couple of filipinos…

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/433465https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/433465Tue, 31 May 2011 01:31:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Quality manpower in childcare needed on Mon, 30 May 2011 11:56:00 GMT]]>To have quality manpower you need $$$.


$$$ means increase in fee. It does mean more people cannot afford.

So the games go on and on between those who have and have not.

They should nationalise the nursery and kindergarten like PCF and First Campus.

Let the richs sent their children to all other brain enrichment and enlargement childcares.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/433185https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/433185Mon, 30 May 2011 11:56:00 GMT