New International Advisory Committee to Strengthen Preschool Quality
As part of Singapore’s ongoing efforts to strengthen preschool quality under the Quality Preschools 2030 plan, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has formed an International Advisory Committee (IAC) to complement its work with local sector experts, educators, and partners.
2 Chaired by Senior Minister of State for Social and Family Development, Mr Goh Pei Ming, the IAC brings together five internationally recognised experts from around the world to provide strategic perspectives on emerging trends, evidence-based practices and strategies to support ECDA’s quality-related initiatives, alongside local sector experts, educators and partners.
3 He said: "Singapore has made significant progress in strengthening the accessibility, affordability and quality of our preschool sector. As we embark on the Quality Preschools 2030 plan, the IAC will bring valuable international perspectives to complement our strong local expertise. These insights will help us build on what works in Singapore, learn from developments around the world, and better support our children to thrive in their early years. Our ambition is for Singapore to not only be a place that learns from the best in early childhood, but one that contributes actively to shaping what best can look like.”
4 The IAC members will serve a three-year term till 2029 and bring expertise spanning early childhood policy, research and practice. The full list of members can be found in Annex A.
Advancing the Next Phase of Preschool Quality
5 The IAC will advise ECDA on key priorities under the Quality Preschools 2030 plan, including professional learning and development for educators and leaders, ECDA's research agenda, and studies conducted or commissioned by ECDA. It will also provide perspectives on international developments and emerging evidence to inform future early childhood education policies and strategies in Singapore.
6 During their inaugural visit to Singapore, the IAC members engaged policymakers, researchers, educators and sector leaders to exchange perspectives on priority areas under the Quality Preschools 2030 plan. A highlight was a closed‑door roundtable chaired by Senior Minister of State Goh Pei Ming, which brought together senior leaders from across the early childhood sector, including preschool and early intervention operators, pedagogical leaders, policymakers and local sector experts. Discussions focused on Singapore’s strategic directions for strengthening preschool quality, supporting children’s holistic development, building educator capability and wellbeing, and how research and evidence can more effectively inform practice and policy. These exchanges will inform ECDA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen preschool quality in ways that are evidence-based, responsive to the sector, and meaningful to the children and families in Singapore.
7 Chief Executive Officer of ECDA, Ms Ku Geok Boon, said, "Through the IAC, ECDA is bringing together international expertise with our local expertise and deep experience of our educators, operators, researchers and families to challenge our thinking, generate new insights and translate evidence into better practice. Ultimately, quality must show up in children’s daily experiences – nurturing them to be curious, confident, with strong foundations for life."
8 One of the IAC members, Professor Iram Siraj, reflected that the inaugural visit provided a valuable opportunity for exchange and learning across systems. “While early childhood systems operate in different contexts, many of the aspirations we hold for children are universal. The discussions in Singapore allowed us to explore how different systems approach quality, and to consider how international insights can complement and enrich strong local practice as efforts continue to strengthen preschool quality.”