PAP Community Foundation and National Institute of Education Launch Early Childhood Curriculum Leadership Certificate Programme

PAP Community Foundation and National Institute of Education Launch Early Childhood Curriculum Leadership Certificate Programme

The first early childhood curriculum leadership certificate programme for in-service centre leaders and curriculum specialists at PCF Sparkletots

Singapore, 7 September 2020 – PAP Community Foundation (PCF) and the National Institute of Education (NIE), an autonomous institute of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU), jointly launched today the Certificate in Early Childhood Curriculum Leadership (CECCL), a programme to strengthen PCF Sparkletots curriculum leaders’ knowledge, skills and dispositions in developing meaningful and relevant curriculums within their centres. A service agreement was signed between PCF’s CEO, Mr Victor Bay and NIE’s Director, Professor Christine Goh at a virtual event this afternoon.

This certificate programme, initiated by PCF and developed by NIE NTU, is the first certification programme for in-service centre leaders and curriculum specialists in PCF Sparkletots to focus on curriculum leadership. Participants will delve in-depth into the theories behind curriculum studies, and learn about practices of inclusive education and responsive curriculum, amongst others. They will be able to apply them through a practical project, enabling them to gain competencies in leading, designing and developing curriculum change.

Participants who complete the programme will be awarded a Certificate in Early Childhood Curriculum Leadership, offered by NIE. Over 400 centre leaders and curriculum specialists from PCF Sparkletots will benefit from the four-month CECCL programme over the next three years.

The first run of the programme is commencing in February next year.

Course participants will undergo six courses in blended learning form, comprising in-person sessions and e-learning. These courses will deepen participants’ understanding of curriculum design and implementation, and culminate in a practical project where they will redesign and redevelop an aspect of curriculum at a host centre. The coupling of knowledge and skills with a practical component ensures that the programme is grounded in practice.

PCF’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Victor Bay, said, “PCF has always placed the continuous professional development of our staff at the forefront of what we do. Our leaders and educators in PCF Sparkletots preschools are presented with many opportunities to continuously upgrade themselves during the course of their career, so that they can stay relevant and become better teachers to our children. This critical partnership between PCF and NIE NTU will help equip PCF Sparkletots centre leaders and curriculum specialists with the knowledge and skills to lead curriculum change in the centres, imagine new possibilities for the future and to work collaboratively with teachers to plan, evaluate and renew the curriculum. With extensive know-how and a committed interdisciplinary faculty, NIE NTU is well-resourced to provide PCF Sparkletots centre leaders and curriculum specialists with a meaningful, interdisciplinary learning experience.”

NIE, Singapore’s national teacher education institute is key in the provision of quality teacher professional and school leadership development programmes. The institute is best poised to design, develop and execute CECCL. CECCL is spearheaded by NIE’s faculty from the Psychology and Child & Human Development Academic Group, and the Policy, Curriculum and Leadership Academic Group.

NIE Director, Professor Christine Goh said, “The launch of the CECCL programme is an excellent showcase of the importance of collaboration and synergy between universities and industries. It marks the start of an exciting partnership between PCF, one of the main providers of Early Childhood education in Singapore, and NIE NTU against the backdrop of PCF’s focus to upskill their educators in PCF Sparkletots preschools. CECCL aims to strengthen PCF Sparkletots curriculum leaders’ knowledge, skills and dispositions to develop an innovative and culturally authentic EC curriculum within their centres. Creating a curriculum that’s meaningful to all stakeholders, children, teachers, parents and the centre involves the complex inter-weaving of curriculum leadership, curriculum design and curriculum development. I’m confident that the CECCL programme will flourish and I wish all participants a fruitful experience as you embark on the next stage of your lifelong professional learning journey.