Preschool education takes center stage at seminar in Beijing
- By Wang Yiming
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E-mail China.org.cn, December 6, 2019
A seminar on preschool education of China and Singapore took place on Dec. 5, in Beijing. Nearly 300 people, including experts, kindergarten principals and teachers from China and Singapore, gathered together to exchange views on preschool education practices in the two countries.
Su Hongtao, deputy director of the China Soong Ching Ling Science and Culture Center for Young People, said that preschool education is the beginning of lifelong learning. He hoped that the seminar could facilitate the mutual learning of preschool education in China and Singapore, further strengthen exchanges among educators, and promote the development of preschool education.
"Nowadays all countries in the world attach great importance to early childhood education. As a Singaporean educator, it's meaningful for me to come here to find out more about Chinese early childhood education, especially the current situation and future development trends," Dr. Foo Suan Fong, executive director of Singapore Center for Chinese Language (SCCL), told the reporter.
"Meanwhile, we also hope to take this opportunity to introduce to our Chinese counterparts the best parts of Singapore's early childhood education and promote exchanges among educators in our two countries," he added.
During the seminar, Dr. Foo and Dr. Wu Yung-Sen, another SCCL lecturer, introduced the development of Singapore's preschool education policy, teacher management and training, and curriculum.
Liu Yan, a Beijing Normal University professor specializing in preschool education and member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), shed light on the development of preschool education in China under current policy.
"According to the document jointly issued by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council in 2018, about 85 percent of preschoolers in China, aged between 3 and 6, will be enrolled in certified kindergartens by 2020. By 2035, preschool education will be available to all children, with a national preschool network set to be established."
Other experts and practitioners from China and Singapore also shared their insights and experiences.
The seminar lasted for two days including five keynote speeches and four rounds of discussions, coupled with field trips to a preschool education enterprise and five kindergartens in Beijing.
It was co-hosted by the China Soong Ching Ling Science and Culture Center for Young People and Zhong Hua Cultural Society (Singapore).
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