Opening Remarks by Minister for Social and Family Development, Masagos Zulkifli, at the Early Childhood Celebrations 2026

Type: 
Official Speeches: Masagos Zulkifli
Topic(s): 
Children & Families
Published on 26 September 2026

Introduction

1. Good morning, everyone. I am very happy to join all of you at our Early Childhood Celebrations, because we come together as a community to celebrate the educators and leaders who work tirelessly to nurture our future generations.

2. This year’s theme, “For Every Child, Excellence Together”, reminds us why our work matters.

  • At the centre of our efforts is the child, each with their unique strengths, interests, and potential.
  • Together, we work towards excellence for our children. Educators, preschool leaders, teachers and operators, parents, community partners and the Government – each of us playing our part with commitment and care.
  • This shared responsibility reflects our belief that Better Starts with Us.

 

Building on Strong Foundations in Accessibility, Affordability, and Quality

3. Over the years, we have made good progress in making preschool more accessible and affordable, and intend to go further.

  • At the National Day Rally last month, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that we will progressively lower preschool fees, extend full subsidies to families with Singapore Citizen children regardless of the main applicant’s working status, and expand the network of Government-supported preschools.
  • Together, these moves will give parents greater assurance that affordable, quality preschools remain within reach. And as the landscape evolves, we invite preschools to innovate, optimise services, and respond to the changing needs of children and families.

 

Quality Preschools 2030

4. As we look ahead, quality must remain at the heart of our sector.  Every child deserves not only a place in preschool, but a good start in life.

5. Earlier this year, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) set out our Quality Preschools 2030 vision. It builds on the strong foundations laid by our early childhood community, and reflects our shared resolve - to uplift quality across the sector. We want:

  • every preschool to be a nurturing space where children can play, learn and grow together, and develop into confident, curious, and caring individuals; 
  • our educators to be well supported, deepen their skills and grow in their profession; and  
  • our parents to have confidence in the care and education their children receive, while partnering educators to support their development.

6. To achieve this vision, ECDA will strengthen support for the sector holistically through stronger professional development, clearer quality benchmarks, greater support for adopting technology and innovation, and partnerships that help good practices take root and spread.

 

Formation of ECDA’s International Advisory Committee

7. An important enabler of Quality Preschools 2030 vision is ECDA’s new International Advisory Committee.

  • Chaired by Senior Minister of State Goh Pei Ming, the Committee brings together five internationally recognised experts across policy, research and practice. Working with local experts, they will advise ECDA on international developments in early childhood research, curriculum, pedagogy and innovation, and how we can strengthen preschool quality in Singapore.
  • A few days ago, Committee members met local experts, sector leaders and officials from the Ministry of Social and Family Development, Ministry of Education, and ECDA to discuss how international and local expertise can advance Quality Preschools 2030.
  • They are here with us today, and I extend a warm welcome to them. I hope their visit deepens their understanding of our context and gives them a first-hand experience of the vibrancy of our early childhood sector.
  • I look forward to their insights and contributions in the important work ahead.

8. We will continue to learn from the best ideas around the world while sharing Singapore’s own strengths and good practices with the wider international community. Through this exchange, we will continue developing and applying the approaches that meet the needs of Singapore’s children, families, and educators. 

 

Quality in Action Among our Leaders and Educators

9. Ultimately, we believe the value of good research and strong frameworks lies in how quality is translated in our preschools every day.

  • We see this in leaders like Ms Yin Jie from My First Skool at Ang Mo Kio Blk 209. Ms Yin Jie will receive this year’s Outstanding Leader Award. She has made inclusion a core part of everyday practice at the centre she leads, serving children with diverse learning needs, so that every child is supported to participate meaningfully and thrive.
  • She was a finalist for the award in 2024, and continued to strengthen her practice – a reminder that quality is something we deepen, sustain and strengthen over time.
  • Another recipient, Ms Shariha Suresh from PCF Sparkletots Preschool at Kolam Ayer Blk 26B, similarly demonstrates the impact of strong professional practice in the classroom. She is this year’s Outstanding Early Years Educator Award recipient. Through her leadership, she creates a safe learning environment where children build confidence and thrive, and guides and supports fellow educators, extending her impact to many more children.
  • The same commitment to excellence is reflected across all 28 individuals and centres receiving the ECDA Awards this year. Each has, in their own way, raised the quality of care, learning and development for our children.

 

President’s Award for Early Childhood Professionals

10. Stories like Yin Jie’s and Shariha’s remind us that for a young child, “quality” is not merely a framework or even a policy. Quality comes alive through the professionals who nurture, guide, and support our children every day.

  • Since the ECDA Awards was launched in 2013, we have recognised more than 300 educators, leaders, and centres for their excellent practices. Over the years, we have seen growing interest in the Awards, with more nominations and a rising standard of practice among those recognised. This is a testament to the commitment and professionalism across the sector.
  • And as we look ahead, we want to build on these moments - to further invest in and celebrate our early childhood and early intervention professionals, and accord greater recognition to their professionalism and impact.

11. Today, I am pleased to announce that from 2027, ECDA will introduce the inaugural President’s Award for Early Childhood Professionals. 

  • The President’s Award will be the highest individual honour in the profession, recognising outstanding early childhood and early intervention professionals whose practice, leadership, and partnerships have made a sustained and far-reaching impact.
  • Our ECDA Awards will remain an integral platform for recognising excellence across the sector. Building on this foundation, the President’s Award sets a higher benchmark for outstanding professionals. The President’s Award will recognise candidates for their impact that extends beyond their own roles and organisations.
  • The Award marks the significant transformation of our profession over the past two decades. We have raised training and professional standards, established the National Institute of Early Childhood Development, strengthened pathways into leadership and specialist roles, and improved career prospects across the sector.
  • It affirms the importance of early childhood professionals, and the expertise, judgement, commitment and care their work requires. Those who make a sustained and far-reaching difference deserve recognition on one of our nation’s highest platforms.
  • It also reflects the government’s commitment to continue to take the profession forward, and I hope it will inspire all educators, leaders, and partners alike, to continue raising the bar, together. When I shared this aspiration with our President, he immediately agreed.

 

Closing: Excellence Together  

12. As we raise our ambitions for quality, let us all play our part so every child can have a good start in life.  

  • Educators must embrace professional development and the right tools, including technology, to do their best work. 
  • Preschool leaders and operators must build strong cultures of learning and improvement, leveraging initiatives like SPARK for their continuous improvement journey.  
  • Parents must partner educators, fostering trust and working towards common goals for their children.
  • Community partners can offer learning opportunities beyond the classroom for children to grow as empathetic and responsible individuals. 

13. To all our educators here today, a big thank you from me and the Ministry. Much of your most important work happens in quiet, everyday moments: encouraging a child to try again, modelling kindness, celebrating breakthroughs, or helping parents better understand their child. These moments may seem small, but together they make a lasting difference. 

14. As we journey towards Quality Preschools 2030, I hope you will continue to grow in your craft and hold fast to the difference you make as the professionals entrusted with shaping the most formative years of our children's lives.  

15. Today is a recognition of your efforts, and I hope all of you have an enjoyable celebration ahead. Thank you.