Pre-schools in Singapore will enjoy two additional holidays annually from 2024, enhancing support for educators and children alike.
Starting in 2024, Teachers’ Day and Children’s Day will be official holidays for pre-schools in Singapore, supplementing the existing six closure days allocated for organisational activities such as curriculum planning and staff development.
Empowering Educators
Announcing the move at the Early Childhood Celebrations and Conference, Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli emphasized the government’s commitment to enhancing the well-being and growth of early childhood educators. The six closure days will now be branded as Development Days, dedicated to individual and team development activities like training sessions and staff retreats.
To promote flexibility, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) will no longer mandate half-day closures on the eves of selected public holidays. Instead, pre-schools can adjust their operating hours based on parental needs and staff considerations.
Voices from the Sector
Educators welcomed the announcement. Ms. Farhana Mohamed Hassan, a senior infant educator at PCF Sparkletots Preschool in Jurong West, praised the additional holidays as recognition of educators’ contributions. She highlighted the importance of rest, stating, “After we recharge, we are more motivated to provide children with a nurturing learning environment.”
Enhanced Frameworks for Early Learning
The conference also marked the launch of the Early Years Development Framework 2023, designed to support educators working with children under three years old. This updated framework emphasizes four developmental areas:
Cognitive
Communication and Language
Physical Development
Social and Emotional Growth
These guidelines aim to help educators create effective learning environments, select appropriate resources, and plan enriching activities.
The framework complements the Nurturing Early Learners Framework by the Ministry of Education, which caters to children aged four to six.
Future Quality Enhancements
ECDA is also developing a Quality Teaching Tool, set for release by the end of 2024, to further improve teaching standards. Developed in collaboration with the Centre for Research in Child Development at the National Institute of Education, this tool underscores the government’s ongoing efforts to elevate early childhood education
