Ratio of Male to Female Preschool Teachers and Oversight of Preschools' Rules for Conduct of Male Teachers

Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) for each of the last five years, what is the ratio of male preschool teachers to female counterparts; (b) whether the Ministry has issued guidelines on the rules set by preschool centres specific to the conduct of male preschool teachers; and (c) if so, what are these guidelines.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Male preschool educators comprised about 1% of the early childhood workforce in each of the last five years.

The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has not issued guidelines pertaining to the rules set by preschool centres specific to the conduct of male preschool educators. All staff, regardless of gender, must abide by ECDA's stipulated protocols to ensure appropriate child management practices when interacting with or caring for infants and children in a preschool.