Moral and Values Development for Early Childhood Education in Singapore

Abstract

This chapter discusses moral and values development for early childhood education (ECE) in Singapore and delineates its international implications. Keeping in mind that early childhood spans from birth to eight, this chapter examines three national frameworks adopted in Singapore: Early Years Development Framework from birth to 3 years of age, Nurturing Early Learners Framework for 4- to 6-year-old children, and the refreshed Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) launched in 2021 for lower primary school children of seven and 8 years of age. This chapter critically discusses how the Ministry of Education in Singapore promotes moral and values development as part of student well-being through the abovementioned frameworks. This chapter has elucidated an example of a moral and values educational program that is geared toward the all-embracing development of students. It explained how moral and values education as exemplified in CCE can be relevant to young children and applied in ECE programs to cultivate desired values from young. It provides suggestions on how various aspects of CCE can be adapted to the pre-school curriculum and offers recommendations on possible pedagogies to implement in the pre-school settings.KeywordsCharacter and Citizenship EducationEarly childhood educationCOVID-19 pandemicSingaporeSocial and emotional learningWell-being