RTRC Asia

SHE was in her teens when she watched a television programme on childcare teachers. Eng Siok Hien decided then that she would be a childcare teacher.

It took longer than she had imagined, but the 20-year-old is finally on track to realising her ambition.

The first-year student is now pursuing a 15-month Early Childhood Education diploma at the Regional Training and Resource Centre in Early Childhood Care and Education for Asia (RTRC).

The school specialises in early childhood care and education programmes, offering a full range of programmes from the certificate to the master's level.

She said she had initially applied to Ngee Ann Polytechnic to pursue a Diploma in Early Childhood Education after her O levels.

Instead, she was admitted to the Mechanical Engineering course, based on her results. But after graduating she decided not to work in an industry for which she had no passion.

She then approached preschool operator, NTUC First Campus, for a job as assistant teacher. The job is open to individuals with a passion for working with children, but who lack the paper qualifications.

Shortlisted candidates undergo a fully sponsored early childhood education course at RTRC Asia to obtain the necessary knowledge and skills for the job.

She was selected for the fully sponsored course by NTUC First Campus.

In return, she will have to serve a two-year bond as a teacher with one of the 50 preschools under NTUC First Campus upon graduation.

She said: 'I'm learning a lot about infants and pre-schoolers, like how to cope with them.'

Students also go on field trips to other childcare centres.

She said one of the most memorable field trips was to childcare centre Baby Planet Montessori, which is located in Siglap.

She said: 'We learnt about their facilities, the outdoor and indoor environments, and how they structured the whole centre.

'It was a great experience to have lessons outside of the classroom.'

She said initially her parents did not approve of her choice of career, but eventually supported her decision as they realised it's a stable job.

NOT ALL FUN AND GAMES

But she said her course is not always fun and games.

'The deadlines for assignments are always very close. Group projects are a problem because most of us work at NTUC First Campus when we are not attending classes. It's a challenge, juggling work and school.'

Students who take up the sponsored classes have to work part-time at the preschool two days a week for slightly less than $1,000 a month. But she has since learnt to cope by doing her assignments at night and conducting group discussions online.

She said her favourite module so far was Visual and Performing Arts for Young Children as she got to perform in class with her classmates.

She said: 'For our assignment, we had to create dance steps for a short nursery rhyme and sing it with different expressions.'

She said the course has also helped her develop as a person.

'I've learnt to be more patient when working with kids.

'In the past when I couldn't do things the way I wanted, I would vent my frustration by scolding people.

'But now I know that it is no use scolding. We have to be patient.'