Forum: Steps taken to improve well-being of early childhood educators
We thank Forum writer Rebecca Chan for her letter 'Children's well-being depends on teachers' well-being too' (April 30). As a professional body representing early childhood educators in Singapore, the Association for Early Childhood Educators (Singapore) recognises the importance of teachers' well-being.
The writer's reflections echo a central tenet of our profession: the ethical responsibility to care for oneself in order to care for others. This is centralised in the Code of Ethics for Early Childhood Professionals in Singapore (CoE), which guides educators to uphold responsibilities – their obligations not only to children, families and society, but also to
themselves and their profession.
Revised and relaunched in late 2024 by our association and the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), the CoE is an important document for educators. It recognises that the emotional labour, physical stamina and reflective judgment that educators bring to their daily work require sustained support. Just as young children thrive in environments where they feel safe, respected and valued, so does teachers.
As Singapore's early childhood landscape evolves, we offer a few reflections:
Professional respect and agency: Educators are pedagogical professionals with ethical commitments. Recognition can extend beyond appreciation days to include inclusion in policymaking and curriculum development.
Ethical complexity: Educators regularly navigate difficult decisions daily – balancing the needs of children, families and institutions. Supporting them requires ongoing professional learning, reflective supervision and tools such as the CoE, which our association is continually developing.
Whole-of-society support: While teachers are instrumental in caring for children, they require support from a thriving and resilient early childhood ecosystem that includes parents, employers, the community and Government.
Investing in the holistic well-being of educators directly translates to better outcomes for the children and families we serve.
To this end, we would highlight ECDA's initiatives in the landscape, such as the periodic review and adjustment of teachers' wages, increased professional development days, removal of the mandatory requirement for childcare centres to operate on Saturdays, designating Teacher's Day and Children's Day as pre-school holidays, and our association's appointment of service providers for relief staff in 2024.
Educator well-being can also be supported at the centre level through mentorship, wellness initiatives and a culture of empathy and appreciation by parents and leaders.
Investing in educators is investing in our children. We welcome continued dialogue and collaboration across sectors to shape a future where educators and children flourish together.
Charmaine Teo
Vice-President
Association for Early Childhood Educators (Singapore)
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