I WAS happy when I read last Wednesday about a salary rise for preschool teachers, only to be disappointed after reading that, in order to get an increase, we need to teach enrichment classes.
Teaching in preschool is a demanding job, preparing children for concerts, exposing ourselves to diseases like hand, foot and mouth and chicken pox, and often having to clean up their faeces and vomit. We have the responsibility to ensure they know how to read and write by year-end, regardless of parental help, and ensure their safety all year round. It is a stressful and draining job, both mentally and physically.

The least we could expect is a reasonable salary. I don't think it is too much to expect, for we have a family to support. For those of us who are married, if something happens to our spouse (and I pray not), how can we support our elderly parents and children on $1,400 to $1,800 pay in this day and age? With inflation and now recession. It is really quite spirit dampening.

Just yesterday, my relative commented that I am in the wrong line of work, with such low returns. I wonder myself many times. I am presently upgrading myself, taking a degree in Early Childhood, but still wonder if I have made the wrong decision. I will not get five-figure pay, compared to someone in business. I have to be practical, so why study more, I ask. When I ask my coursemates about salaries, they all grumbled at such 'miserable pay'. They would not have stayed, if not for their passion to teach children. So my question is, have we been taken for granted all these years?

I hope the Government will seriously look into this, or we will lose all the passionate teachers.

Chang Choon Kheng (Mdm)

This article was first published in The Straits Times on 21 Oct, 2008.