Can stereotypes of male pre-school teachers be reduced to ease more men into the profession that is seeing shortage in Singapore?

Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

There is less than one man for every 10 early childhood educators in Singapore - surprising given that the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) estimates the need for another 1,500 more educators to support the sector’s expansion in the coming years. 

As male pre-school teachers conventionally face more scrutiny, could MSF’s new set of guidelines spelling out appropriate boundaries help ease tensions? 

The new set of guidelines for primary caregivers include expression affection, bathing practices and exposure to nudity. 

Amid a spate of abuse cases at various pre-schools in Singapore being reported in 2024, these guidelines could help pre-school teachers and parents set their mind at ease, especially when it comes to male pre-school teachers, said guests in this episode. 

The two guests are: Sajit Sesikumar, 30, a senior English pre-school teacher, who shares his six-year experience at MindChamps Preschool; and Yeo Shufang, 42, a mother of four kids, with her youngest attending preschool at age 4.

In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong and her co-host - STNow reporter Christie Chiu - ask their two guests whether setting guidelines can ease the tensions male pre-school teachers have to navigate at work, and encourage more to the early childhood education profession. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

6:50 How pre-schoolers can learn better from a diversity of teachers

11:24 How MSF’s healthy family guidelines can ease the work of pre-school teachers 

13:25 How Sajid deals with physical affection from students  

16:37 How Shufang teaches her children about personal boundaries

21:28 Is Singapore ready to normalise male preschool teachers and how can stereotypes be reduced?

Read ST's Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH

Read Christie Chiu’s articles: https://str.sg/LfQG 

Hosts: Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg) and Christie Chiu 

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

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