I REFER to media reports on NTUC Childcare building 25 more childcare centres over the next 12 to 18 months.

The group will also be spending $1.5 million more a year to raise teachers' salaries and train them.

It is not surprising that many pre-school teachers have left the profession and chosen to further their studies.

Many pre-school teachers enter the area of early-childhood education with enthusiasm and the expectation that they will be seen as educators.

However, they find themselves restricted and impeded by the multiple duties they have to perform in addition to their role as teacher.

A pre-school teacher should be given due respect as an educator who prepares children for primary education.

They cannot do so when they have to multi-task as a form teacher and nanny every day, teaching curriculum one minute and cleaning backsides the next.

I believe that pre-school teachers are all for change and improvement, but their job description has not been clearly defined. It is for the human-resource team and centre operators to create clearer rules and job descriptions that will help them achieve this.

One solution is to have two different types of teachers in childcare centres.

"Educators" will teach only curriculum, and "assistants" will be solely in charge of the children's physical needs.

With this, pre-school teachers might no longer turn up for work looking like nannies.

More importantly, this will change public perception of their role and encourage society to accord them the respect they deserve.

Mr Sebastian Tan

For more my paper stories click here.