The ECE Landscape in Singapore: Analysis of Current Trends, Issues, and Prospect for a Cosmopolitan Outlook

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This critical analysis essay investigates the recent trends and issues of Early
Childhood Education (ECE) in Singapore by triggering a cosmopolitan outlook for
the future. Trends are introduced by reviewing recent government initiatives. Issues
are examined by analyzing and incorporating the related scholarly studies and my
exploration of teachers’ reflections about such changes. The critical analysis is made
with multiple discourses to interpret trends and issues in Singapore. These trends
include inquiry-based learning, child-centeredness, and teachers as reflective thinkers.
The issues consist of teachers’grappling to adapt to the local traditions of efficiencyand
standardized-oriented education for the global trends. The future landscape argues
for adopting cosmopolitanism, instead of being “universalized” in a narrow way
(which is standardized and homogenized by the worldwide views; usually dominated
by the western perspectives only). In globalization, cosmopolitanism prevails in
both a local context and foreign cultures through emphasizing education as an evolving
process to uphold the local traditions and be open to the new possibilities. A
cosmopolitan outlook including a cosmopolitan teacher and cosmopolitan ECE is
argued and proposed for the future landscape by drawing upon Hansen’s (2010),
Luke (2004), and Popkewitz’s (2003, 2007) works.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Trends and Issues of ECE in Singapore
• Triggering a Cosmopolitan Outlook
• Conclusion
• References