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The mid-careerist guide to entering the early childhood industry in Singapore

So you want to enter the early childhood industry?

Hold your horses.

As someone with a foot in and enough research, I would advise you to know the requirements before jumping in.

And even if you have enough theoretical knowledge on the ins and outs of the early childhood sector, my tip for you would be to try it out as a career part-time/full-time first.

I’ll let you in on the “stories” when the time is right but for this particular post, let’s focus on the nitty-gritty of how to enter the early childhood industry as a mid-careerist.

Ready? Let’s get into it.

Where to get trained?

Many institutions are offering early childhood programs but if there’s one that I would recommend for “name’s sake”, it would be the National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC).

Why, you may ask.

Well, mainly because it’s a training institute set up by MOE itself and it’s also the place where trainee teachers get trained to become full-fledged teachers in MOE schools.

You’re likely in good hands.

But don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that the other recognized institutions are subpar; I’m just recommending one that I think would look nice on your resume.

Course & career preview by NIEC

We’re just in time for NIEC’s upcoming event, a course & career preview—like a sharing session of sorts to help you find out more information.

It’s coming up this week, 6 May 2023, on a Saturday.

There are two sharing sessions, one at 10 am, and another after lunch, at 1 pm.

It’s specially created for mid-careerists who are keen to enter the early childhood sector so this event is a perfect chance for you to get enlightened on more.

There are also partner preschool operators on-site where you can even get to speak to potential employers and learn more about existing job opportunities!

If you’re keen to attend, you can register at this link: bit.ly/CCP6MAY

Here’s the official post from NIEC themselves:

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A post shared by National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC) (@niecsingapore)

What courses do you qualify for?

We’ve still got some time left till the course preview by NIEC so maybe you can take this time to read up more on the courses you qualify for.

The good thing is that there is a clear career progression in the early childhood industry in Singapore so you immediately know what courses to take if you’re serious about entering the sector.

And that is based on your academic qualifications.

Here’s the breakdown and details.

If you’ve completed your Secondary 4 Education, you can enroll in these courses:

Advanced Certificate in Early Years (ACEY)
幼儿保育高级证书 [ACEY in Chinese]

ACEY will take 8 months or 14 months respectively (depending on your intake) to complete. Upon completion of the course, you will be certified as an EY2 educator by ECDA and be qualified to care for infants and kids from 2 months to 3 years of age.

Course fees

For those with 3 O-level credits:

Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Care & Education (ACECCE)

ACECCE is a 13- or 20-month course that will certify you as an L1 teacher. With ACECCE, you will be eligible to teach pre-nursery and nursery children from 18 months to 4 years old. Depending on the childcare or preschool needs, you may also be assisting K1 and K2 classes.

Course fees

For those with 5 O-level credits:

Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education – Teaching (DECCE-T)
幼儿教育专业文凭课程 [DECCE-T in Chinese]

DECCE-T will take 18 to 30 months to complete. Upon graduation, you will gain an L2 certification that allows you to care for and teach children aged 18 months to 6 years old. Those who do not have a minimum B4 grade for English Language (EL1) will need to obtain a minimum band of 6.5 in IELTS (General) or other ELAA within 2 years.

Course fees

Folks with a degree or local poly diploma:

Diploma (Conversion) in Early Childhood Care & Education-Teaching [DECCE-T (Conversion)]
幼儿保育与教育专业文凭（转业课程）[DECCE-T (Conversion in Chinese)]

DECCE-T (Conversion) is the last on this list for mid-careerist. It’s similar to the DECCE-T, except that it’s shorter in the training period. It will take you just 9 to 13 months to complete training.

Looks attractive, isn’t it? But as short as the training period is, be mindful that it’s going to be 10x more stressful since the knowledge that needs to be imparted to you is cramped within that short period.

I’ve seen friends and acquaintances undergo the DECCE-T while working at an early childhood center full-time and honestly, it’s not something I would want to go through. But if you’re serious about making that switch and don’t mind a stressful ride for long-term “gain”, go ahead!

Course fees

What if you’re not sure about making the switch?

Making a mid-career switch can be scary and if you’re 100% sure about being a full-fledged early childhood educator, I would advise you NOT to go for training just yet.

Look out for assistant teacher job opportunities first, where you play an assistant role to a trained teacher. By being an assistant teacher first, you will be aiding alongside the main teachers, which gives you a firsthand account of what your life is going to be like when you have to finally lead a class.

As with most jobs, being a “teacher” is not just about “teaching”. There are lots of things that go behind the scenes that most won’t see unless they’ve been through it. So I urge you to get yourself in the game first and give yourself some time to be fully immersed in the life of an early childhood educator before you decide if you want to spend that money/sign a bond and go for training.

Good luck with your new journey!

Singapore Airlines conducting walk-in interviews for cabin crew on Saturday, 6 May 2023.

Are you looking for an exciting career that takes you around the world? Do you have a passion for providing exceptional customer service? Look no further than Singapore Airlines!

They are thrilled to announce their upcoming recruitment drive at Singapore Expo on Max Atria on 6 May 2023. They are searching for talented individuals to join their world-class team as cabin crew members. As a cabin crew member, you will be given an attractive salary package with allowances based on your flight patterns and flying hours. You will also have the opportunity to travel to any SIA destination once a year, meet new people, and provide the passengers with the best possible experience.

To get you started, they will be offering a comprehensive training program to prepare you for your role as a cabin crew member. You will learn essential skills such as safety procedures, customer service, and more.

Screengrab from Singapore Airlines’s Facebook Post

If you are ready to take the next step in your career and join a world-class team, you are encouraged to attend their upcoming recruitment drive at Singapore Expo on Max Atria on 6 May 2023.

To be eligible for the walk-in interviews, you will need to meet the following requirements:

Singaporeans only
Minimum age of 18 years old due to legislative requirements
Minimum qualification of 5 GCE ‘O’ Level credits (including English) or Higher Nitec and above
Minimum height requirement of at least 1.58m for females and 1.65m for males in order to carry out safety and emergency procedures onboard
Pleasant personality and service-oriented
Fluent in English with good communication skills

Successful candidates must be able to commence employment with them within three months from the date of application.

Application Details: The details of their walk-in interviews are as follows:

Date: Saturday, 6 May 2023

Venue: Singapore EXPO Max Atria
Garnet 212
1 Expo Drive Singapore 486150

Registration will be open from 8.30am to 2.00pm.

Interested applicants are requested to download and complete this application form in hardcopy. You will also need to bring along ALL the originals and photocopies of the following documents:

Identity Card
Birth Certificate
Passport
Marriage Cert (if any)
Deed Poll (where applicable)
Entry/Re-entry Permit (if applicable)
All Educational Certificates
Vaccination Report
National Service Certificate and Transcripts (if applicable)

*For candidates wearing contact lenses, please come to the interview in clear contact lenses (i.e. no coloured contact lenses or iris enhancers.)

* Due to space constraints, candidates are advised to refrain from bringing companions to the interview. There will be no waiting area for those who are not attending the interviews.

For more information, visit https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/careers/cabin-crew-career/

3 newly opened cafes near Seongsu & Ttukseom Stations to visit in South Korea

If you take an interest in South Korea, you would have known that the cafe culture in Korea is seriously not a joke.

Trends come and go in the land of kimchi and cafes are opening and closing within months.

Not to mention that prices have generally gone up.

But if it’s a well-deserved trip you’re making soon, go ahead and spend within your budget!

Here are 3 newly opened cafes near two train stations of Line 2 (green line)—Seongsu & Ttukseom—so drop by if you’re visiting the area.

BILLOWY | 빌로위 성수

Image Credits: blog.naver.com/jjh30417

Opening hours: 10 am to 12 am (last order at 10.30 pm)

Prices: Starting from 4,500 KRW (4.49 SGD) for drinks

Address: 15 Seongsuil-ro 12-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Directions: An 8-minute walk (567 m) from Exit 1 of Seongsu Station

BILLOWY makes a good brunch place so if you’re short on time (which most of us are while on holiday), consider dropping by this cafe/brunch place.

Image Credits: blog.naver.com/prejiii

The brunch menu ranges from 14,000 to 30,000 KRW (13.97 to 29.94 SGD) so it’s a little on the high side. But I love the aesthetics of this place.

Image Credits: blog.naver.com/jjh30417

The greyish-white interior colors with pops of greens are easy on the eyes and make perfect backdrops for selfie lovers.

FLOPPY | 플로피

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A post shared by FLOPPY 플로피 (@cafe.floppy)

Opening hours: Mondays to Fridays 10 am to 6 pm; Saturdays to Sundays 11 am to 6 pm

Prices: Starting from 3,500/4,500 KRW (3.49/4.49 SGD) for drinks

Address: 10 Achasan-ro 1 ga-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Directions: A 2-minute walk (150 m) from Exit 2 of Ttukseom Station

You will immediately spot this coffee & dessert place from afar thanks to its black exterior and clean white interior with unique mini tables and wooden chairs near the entrance. It’s not a huge space so you may not get seats if you’re unlucky.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FLOPPY 플로피 (@cafe.floppy)

To guarantee a seat, you may want to visit them close to the opening hours, which are 10 am on weekdays and 11 am on weekends.

Prices are pretty wallet-friendly, considering it’s in Seoul.

BREADYPOST | 브레디포스트 성수

Image Credits: blog.naver.com/qqq86

Opening hours: 10 am to 8 pm daily

Prices: Starting from 5,000 KRW (4.99 SGD) for drinks

Address: 5 Sangwon 1-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Directions: Head to Exit 5 of Ttukseom Station and walk along Sangwon-gil. It’s just 259 m away from the exit.

BREADYPOST specializes in freshly made pretzels with a decent variety of jams and sauces as add-ons you can purchase.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐘𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐓 | 브레디포스트 (@breadypost_bakery)

The cafe itself somehow gives off some old-school vibes so it would make good vintage additions to your social feeds.

Image Credits: blog.naver.com/xenia5779

One visitor added that the pastries are out at 10 am, 1 pm, and 4 pm. So if you want the freshest treats right out of the oven, you know what time you should visit.

And that’s all from me for this short post!

As mentioned in the opening, cafes in Korea open and close at lightning speeds. So I’ll probably be able to bring you another similar post soon.

See you then! 🙂

3 things that have gone/going digital in Singapore recently

More things have gone/going digital recently, as part of the Singapore government’s efforts to digitalize its services to provide greater conveniences to the public.

While going through the news today, I came across these 3 things that have gone/going digital on our sunny island recently, hence this post.

Want to know what they are?

Keep your eyes peeled on this page.

#1: Vocational licenses

This one comes first because it has already launched at the start of this month.

To be exact, 1 April 2023.

According to LTA and the Government Technology Agency, vocational licenses for bus, taxi, and private-hire drivers have gone digital alongside digital identification cards and driver’s licenses.

Image Credits: todayonline.com

They can be found in the “My Cards” section in the Singpass app.

But thankfully for folks who can’t seem to get used to going digital, they can still apply for a physical vocational license at a fee of (ahem) $21.60.

Know of friends and loved ones who will be affected by this change?

Pass the message, ya?

#2: CHAS subsidy cards

Next up on our list, we have CHAS subsidy cards, which are hot off the press.

From today (28 April), CHAS cardholders 15 and above will be able to access their digital CHAS subsidy cards on the Singpass app. It’s also parked under the “My Cards” section.

Image Credits: MOH

Similar to vocational licenses, physical CHAS cards will still be issued. But unlike an extra fee charged for the above, physical CHAS cards will continue to be issued free for eligible Singaporeans.

They will be mailed to cardholders as usual, with the digital CHAS card made available on Singpass a day after being notified via SMS of successful application.

MOH has advised the public NOT to keep a screenshot of their digital CHAS card, to avoid unauthorized usage.

So no convenient screenshots, yeah?

#3: CapitaVouchers

We’ve still got some time left on this one since we will only say our official goodbye to physical CapitaVouchers on 30 June 2023.

From 1 July, only eCapitaVouchers will be accepted.

So it’s good that you start clearing your physical CapitaVouchers by 30 June.

Alternatively, you can convert them to equivalent STAR$ value from 2 May to 30 September 2023 at these customer service counters:

Bedok Mall
Bugis Junction
IMM
ION Orchard
Jcube
Junction 8
Lot 1
Raffles City
Singpost Centre
Tampines Mall
Westgate

Be sure to visit during off-peak hours (if you cannot tahan waiting), between 11 am to 9 pm.

Here’s an infographic for all you need to know regarding the conversion:

And there we have it, 3 things that have gone/going digital in Singapore: vocational licenses, CHAS subsidy cards, and CapitaVouchers.

What do you think is coming up next on the government’s radar?

Travel Thursday: 3D2N Itinerary to Surabaya, Indonesia at $204.30/pax (flights + hotel + breakfast)

One more day to the long weekend!

If you’ve not planned yourself a trip out of Singapore for Labor Day, boohoo.

Haha, just kidding.

It’s never too early to start planning for the next getaway and for this Travel Thursday, we will be looking at a 3D2N trip to Surabaya, Indonesia.

Best of all, it’s just $204.30/pax and includes flights + hotel + breakfast.

Since Vesak Day falls on 2 June, a Friday, this itinerary’s prices will be based on research done for 2 June to 4 June 2023 (2-to-go):

Batik Air flights, round trip per pax: $166.30

The Life Styles Hotel Surabaya (superior room + breakfast): approx. $76 including taxes via Agoda ($38/pax)

Ready for a detailed itinerary? Let’s roll.

Prices reflected are accurate at the time of writing.

2 June 2023, Friday

Flight: Batik Air

8.50 am Reach Singapore Changi Airport T3 for check-in

11.50 am Flight to Surabaya

1.10 pm (local time) Touch down at Surabaya Juanda International Airport T2

Hotel: The Life Styles Hotel Surabaya

2 pm Take your ride to the hotel

Address: Jl. Sumatera No.16, Ketabang, Kec. Gubeng, Kota SBY, Jawa Timur 60272, Indonesia

2.40 pm Reach The Life Styles Hotel Surabaya (estimated time is about 40 minutes but that depends on the traffic too)

Check-in is from 2 pm so you should be able to drop your luggage and freshen up a little before heading for lunch.

Late lunch: Sansekerta – The Authentic Taste Of Indonesia

Let’s fill our tummies first before we start exploring, shall we?

Take a 4-minute ride or 10-minute walk from your hotel to Sansekerta for a real taste of Indonesian food.

Image Credits: Yunita Wijaya on Google Reviews

Or you can head straight to Grand City Mall Surabaya for more dining options.

4 pm Take a 7- to 10-minute walk from your lunch place to Surabaya Submarine Monument, a museum that offers tours. Or you can go free and easy, snap your quick pics, and let’s move on to the next location.

5 pm Walk your way to Bambu Runcing, about 15 minutes away from the Surabaya Submarine Monument. This landmark monument will certainly prove that you’re in Surabaya. Ha!

Image Credits: tourism.surabaya.go.id

*Plan ahead*

Since you’re in the district, you may want to book yourself a massage session for tomorrow night (3 June). RATU MASSAGE SURABAYA (massage panggilan) is right around the corner from Bambu Runcing so drop by to book yourself a massage appointment.

5.30 pm It’s almost dinner time and from all the walking, you should be ready for some food. A 10-minute walk will take you to Apsari Park, an urban green space with street eats. You will instantly know you’re at the right place if you spot the Monumen Patung Gubernur Suryo.

6 pm If the food stalls are closed, you may want to take a short walk to Tunjungan Plaza instead. You will never go wrong with a shopping mall, yeah?

Image Credits: Yemima Eve on Google Reviews

Enjoy your dinner, and drinks, do some shopping, or even catch an evening movie at the Tunjungan 5 XXI cinema. It’s your holiday so do it your way!

Once you’re done, your hotel is just a less than 15-minute drive away.

Take a swim, or wash up and get some rest; I’ll see you tomorrow.

3 June 2023, Saturday

8 am Rise and shine, and get changed because it’s time for hotel breakfast.

9 am After breakfast, grab yourself a taxi to Surabaya Zoo. It will be a short 10-minute ride from the hotel.

Fun fact: Do you know that looking at cute animals can lead to reduced stress levels? Science has backed this up. So all the sake of our happiness and well-being, here’s a zoo trip planned for you.

11.30 am We’re heading for lunch soon but before we go, let’s drop by Bungkul Park, just 600 m from the zoo.

Bunkul Park is a dog-friendly popular green space so just take a walk through and snap some pictures for keepsake.

12 pm Let’s head to Marvell City Mall for lunch. It’s a 5-minute ride away from the park or if you prefer to clock more steps, take a 12-minute walk to the shopping mall.

Have your lunch, shop at LOTTE Mart if you wish and I’ll see you at 2 pm.

2 pm We’re heading far out so make sure you stop by the washroom to relieve yourself before we grab a ride to Surabaya North Quay.

It’s going to take 30 to 40 minutes (depending on the traffic) to get to the famed tourist attraction by the waters.

2.45 pm There’s a rooftop deck over there, so feel free to grab yourself a drink at the cafe and soak in the port and sea views and vibes while you’re there.

Don’t forget to look out for the Monumen Jalesveva Jayamahe by the corner!

4 pm Call yourself a cab because we’re heading to Chinatown. More specifically, we want to snap some pictures of Kya Kya Surabaya, a historical landmark marked by red “gates” and golden dragons.

Image Credits: suarasurabaya.net

You’re in the Chinatown district so take some time to walk through the streets before you walk yourself to ITC Mega Grosir Surabaya (shopping mall) for some cool air and respite. And of course, food!

Pasar Atom (another shopping mall) is just right around the corner so we have options ya.

7 pm Let’s grab a cab to RATU MASSAGE SURABAYA (massage panggilan) for your massage session.

9 pm All relaxed for bed? You’re just a 5-minute ride or a 15-minute walk back to your hotel.

Pack up, wash up, and hit the sack early because we’ve got a morning flight to catch tomorrow.

4 June 2023, Sunday

4.45 am Hop on your taxi to Surabaya Juanda International Airport T2 (it will take roughly 40 minutes)

5.45 am Reach the airport for check-in

7.45 am Take your flight back to Singapore

Image Credits: travel.kompas.com

11 am (local time) Touch down at Singapore Changi Airport T3

Hope you’ve had a superb trip in Surabaya!

See you soon for our next flight out 😉

Where to get trained?

Course & career preview by NIEC

#1: Vocational licenses

#2: CHAS subsidy cards

#3: CapitaVouchers

2 June 2023, Friday

Flight: Batik Air

Hotel: The Life Styles Hotel Surabaya

Late lunch: Sansekerta – The Authentic Taste Of Indonesia

3 June 2023, Saturday

4 June 2023, Sunday

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