By Low Wei Xiang

PARENTS, imagine a digital portfolio that lets you follow your pre-school kids' progress, with memorable moments captured on camera.

When they "graduate", the portfolio will be theirs to keep as a CD-ROM.

That, and more, will be possible with a US$2-million (S$2.8-million) initiative to boost standards at non-profit pre-school centres.

The effort involves the Lien Foundation and the philanthropic arm of Salesforce. com, which makes applications to manage information or data.

The Salesforce.com Foundation will donate US$1 million in licences so pre-school centres can use the company's online applications for free, said Ms Lindsey Armstrong, executive vice-president of Salesforce.com.

The other US$1 million, from the Lien Foundation, will pay for hardware and IT support, such as software training for teachers.

Mr Lee Poh Wah, chief executive of Lien Foundation, hopes the initiative will grow to involve a wide range of applications, so that centres can choose and customise them to their needs.

For example, Persatuan Pemudi Islam Singapura (PPIS), a Malay-Muslim women's association, is in talks with the foundations for a platform to let pre-school attendance be taken and submitted online.

Currently, attendance at its five pre-school centres is recorded in booklets, which are then sent to the main office by courier, said Ms Nadhira Koyakutty, head of early-childhood education at PPIS.

She is also negotiating for laptops for all teachers in a PPIS centre. It is among five non-profit centres that will pilot the initiative, which will be launched next month.

Another centre taking part is run by the Presbyterian Community Services (PCS). Three more have yet to be selected. Another 55 other centres will be included within 16 months.

The goal is to free teachers to focus on the kids, Mr Lee said.

Ms Zurianee Zainal, 34, a teacher, felt that the digital portfolio will let her identify areas her five-year-old daughter, who is at a PPIS centre, needs more help in.

Mr Laurence Wee, PCS' executive director, said: "Preschools from the non-profit sector often face intense competition for resources, have minimal IT infrastructure and limited funds. This initiative can help empower our staff and children and maximise their potential."

weixiang@sph.com.sg

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