Local kindergarten and childcare teachers are expected to do more than just teach.

However, the common grouse of pre-school teachers here is that their pay does not commiserate with the work that they have to put in.

Their salary is also found to fall behind those paid to clerical staff and waitresses. This has led to many teachers leaving the workforce after a short period of time.

As one parent pointed out, the average salary of a cleaner in Europe is about $2040. This is more than what kindergarten teachers here are earning.

Mr Yang Qing Shan, manager of Tampines East People's Action Party (PAP) Kindergarten, said pre-school teachers were generally paid according to their qualifications and experience.

According to the Shin Min Daily News, the starting pay of pre-school teachers here ranges between $1000 and $1200. In Singapore, the pay of a clerical or administrative staff is about $1700, while the wages of a waitress amount to at least $1029 per month.

Research done by the Education Services Union on pre-school teachers revealed that 34 per cent of teachers said they might consider leaving the teaching service after one year. Of these, 56 per cent of them said it was due to low pay.

However, Mr Yang told Shin Min that as entry requirements for pre-school teachers were set to be increased next year, the salary of pre-school teachers might be raised as a result.

The programme manager of the Association of Early Childhood educators, Ms Gao, told the Chinese daily: "Teachers have to clean up after the kids when they have diarrhoea or when they vomit.This is to ensure they maintain proper hygiene, but in the process, it also creates a bond between teacher and student. When the cleaning lady is not around, teachers will have to clean up the classroom as well."

Confessions of pre-school teachers

• Case 1: "I've worked for six years, but earn less than $1400"

Ms Zheng, 39, has been teaching at a pre-school for six years, moving up the career ladder from teaching assistant to teacher. She now takes home less than $1400 a month, and works an average of six hours a day.

She says she is staying on the job only because of the bond she has developed with her charges. However, she worries that if her husband were to lose her job, she will not be able to support her two children with her salary.

She has thought of pursuing a higher education in early childhood development, but has also considered choosing a different course, one which will allow her to command a higher salary.

• Case 2: Duties are not clear

Pre-school teacher Ms Zhang Rui Shan, 25, holds a diploma in early childhood education.

She commanded a starting salary of $1450 when she first started working. Three years later, her salary has increased to $1500.

She works an average of nine hours a day, but on days when the centre is short-handed, the hours may stretch to 12 hours or more. 

Ms Zhang says the duties and responsibilities of a pre-school teacher are not clear-cut. Teachers are required to teach, but at the same time, they need to clean up after the children when they have soiled themselves, and occasionally have to clean the classrooms or areas that the children have dirtied.

She feels that pre-school teachers here are not given the same respect as other teachers by those in the education field. This, in addition to the low pay, has led to the loss of talented individuals in this field.

Pre-school teachers' pay scale

Salary of employees in other professions

Source: Manpower Research and Statistics Department, Singapore