I APPLAUD the Ministry of Education's (MOE) effort to raise the bar for higher-quality preschool education and have an accreditation system in place by 2011.

The key questions in my mind, and probably in the minds of the 45 per cent of preschool teachers who don't meet the proposed minimum standards:

• Will working conditions improve?

• Will salaries increase?

• Will MOE finally take charge and regulate preschool centres as they have done at primary level and above?

Surely MPs and parents who have called for improvements realise that, by raising the bar, there will be improvements in the salaries of childcare educators and the working conditions as well.

As a parent, I agree the early years of a child's development are crucial.

As MP Michael Palmer has said, preschool education should be as good as primary and secondary education, if not better.

To achieve such standards, preschool educators should be as well paid as primary and secondary school teachers, if not better.

The salary scale in the preschool education industry is relatively low. I believe the authorities have figures, so I shall not elaborate further as it would deter many who aspire to be preschool educators and embarrass existing ones who work with a passion.

By the way, I called my mother last Wednesday and thanked her for the years of love and care, and the effort put in to build my character during my preschool years. It was during the 1970s and I didn't have a preschool education then.

Jonathan Chew Kok Ann

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Mar 10, 2008.