By Amelia Tan

KINDERGARTENS here have begun a big drive to share teaching practices in a bid to upgrade the quality of pre-school education.

About 750 kindergarten teachers and principals took part in a forum yesterday where they shared best practices and received awards for their work.

It was the biggest turnout since the annual event was started two years ago.

The forum is the latest in a series of moves by the Government to raise pre-school education standards.

In March this year, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced that it will be raising the minimum qualifications of pre-school teachers in the next few years.

For example, from next January, new pre-school teachers must have five O-level credits and obtain a diploma in pre-school education within four years of joining the field.

The 750 teachers and principals who attended yesterday's forum came from 90 per cent of the nearly 500 kindergartens here. In previous years, about 500 to 600 attended.

They learnt about innovative teaching methods during 14 sessions involving the MOE, kindergartens, schools and the National Institute of Education. This is double the number of sessions organised in previous years.

The event also saw the work of outstanding teachers and centres commended. Winners were nominated by principals and selected by a panel of judges made up of education experts.

The PAP Community Foundation kindergarten at Nanyang Block 825 received the best practice award for a teaching programme that encourages children to learn on their own.

In classes, teachers take a more hands-off approach while children work in groups on activities related to mathematics, art and science, among other things.

Principal Betty Sim said: 'The award recognises that we are professionals. It helps change perceptions that kindergarten teachers are baby-sitters who take care of the children while their mothers are busy. It shows that we can make a difference in a child's education and growth.'

Madam Tang Hong Ying, who teaches Chinese at the Woodlands branch of Kinderland Preschool, won the outstanding kindergarten teacher award in distinction.

She has been involved in self-enrichment courses and wants to pursue a degree in early childhood education soon.

She said: 'The awards show that the Government and society recognise our work as kindergarten teachers. I am encouraged to work even harder now.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times on 20 Nov, 2008.