Diploma in Early Childhood Development
& Education (N96 & T68)

About Course

This Diploma in Early Childhood Development & Education (ECDE) is conducted by NIEC in collaboration with Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic at the NIEC (NP)/NIEC (TP) campuses. It is a professional qualification recognised by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) for practice as a preschool teacher in Singapore.

In this course, you will build a strong foundation in understanding child development, early childhood care and education for young children between the ages of 18 months and 6 years old. There will also be opportunities for cross-campus learning through pursuing specific electives. 

Take your pick from 2 locations – our NIEC (NP) or NIEC (TP) campus*. Each campus has its own distinct campus life (facilities, CCAs, access to student support services and activities) and campus-wide modules, and you can deepen your skills with specialisations you can take in your final year! You can choose to specialise in the Early Intervention track, Mother Tongue Language Chinese and Tamil tracks at NIEC (NP) or the Visual Arts track and Mother Tongue Language Malay track at NIEC (TP) while receiving the same core early childhood training in both campuses.

*Course Codes

ECDE at NIEC (NP) – N96

ECDE at NIEC (TP) – T68

Entry Requirements

Graduating O-level Student

Aggregate type: ELR2B2-A

• O-level English (EL): Grades 1 – 6* 

• Any one of the 1st group of Relevant Subjects for the ELR2B2-A Aggregate Type: Grade 1 – 6

• Any one of the 2nd group of Relevant Subjects for the ELR2B2-A Aggregate Type: Grade 1 – 6

To be eligible for selection, students must also have sat for Mathematics (Elementary/Additional) and fulfil the aggregate computation requirements for the ELR2B2-A Aggregate Type listed here. 

* In order to be granted teacher certification status by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) to teach Kindergarten levels, graduates must have a minimum of a B4 grade for GCE O-level English as a First Language (EL1) or equivalent.

All students, including PFP students, without a B4 grade for GCE O-level EL1 will be granted a conditional certification to teach Kindergarten levels upon graduation and have two years from the point of teacher certification to obtain at least a B4 for GCE O-level EL1, or an English Language Acceptable Alternative (ELAA) e.g. IELTS (General) minimum band of 6.5. Otherwise, students will only be certified to teach up to Nursery levels after the two-year conditional certification.

The main medium of instruction for all these subjects must be in English, except for a language subject.

Graduating Higher Nitec Student

• Higher Nitec GPA of at least 3.0 (inclusive of CCA bonus points)

• O-level English (EL) Grades 1 – 6

Upon Graduation

The Diploma in Early Childhood Development and Education is awarded by the National Institute of Early Childhood Development in collaboration with Ngee Ann Polytechnic/Temasek Polytechnic. The diploma fulfils the professional qualifications of a Level 2 category of teacher. You may teach any level from Pre-Nursery, Nursery to K1 and K2. You may also work in other children-related fields.

With further studies and training, a wide variety of options are available in the following areas:  

• Child Support and Family Services 

• Early Intervention, Special Needs Education 

• Curriculum Development 

• Play Therapy 

• Teacher Education