NIEC EAE 2025 – Parents’ Edition
Hello! Is your child considering becoming an early childhood educator? As a parent, are you looking to learn more about early childhood courses and the career prospects after graduation? Keep scrolling to learn more!
NIEC was set up by the Ministry of Education (MOE) to uplift the quality of early childhood training. We provide a full range of courses for early childhood educators at every stage of their career.
Additionally, we work closely with the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) to ensure our training reflects the latest early childhood practices and meet the sector evolving needs!
Why Should Your Child Join the Early Childhood Sector?
1. Rewarding and Meaningful Profession
Early childhood educators are in the privileged position to be one of the children’s first teachers. During the critical developmental period in their early years, a child’s brain undergoes rapid growth, making this time particularly impactful for learning. As such, early childhood educators play an immensely vital and meaningful role in nurturing young minds, imparting essential life skills and values. This helps build a strong foundation for their learning!
2. Promising Pathways
The government has implemented initiatives to support the growth of the sector, creating opportunities for both career and educational progression. During ECDA’s Early Childhood Celebrations 2024, Minister for Social and Family Development, Masagos Zulkifli shared that close to 40,000 new infant and childcare places will be developed from 2025 to 2029 (November 2024, ECDA). This expansion would mean your child can enjoy employment opportunities and job security in the sector.
ECDA has also announced the expansion of career pathways in the early childhood space. This includes leadership, learning support or early intervention roles. Click here to find out more about the career pathways.
Upon Graduation
Your child will be awarded a certificate by NIEC and the Polytechnic/ITE, making them eligible for teacher certification by ECDA.
Here’s what your child can expect for their starting salary*:
- Preschool Educators: From $2,900
- Infant & Early Years Educators: From $2,600
(*Above is an indication of the expected gross monthly salary ranges for EC educators in Anchor Operator (AOP) centres by 2024.)
3. Further Studies
As graduates of our diploma programmes, students will be eligible to apply for full-time degree programmes offered by the Autonomous Universities (AUs) or overseas universities. You may find the full university accreditation list here.
Moreover, we provide a full range of courses for early childhood educators at every stage of their career. Even after graduation when they are working as an educator, they can continue upgrading themselves through our post-diplomas or continuing professional development courses!
Our Courses and Campuses
We conduct our early childhood courses in collaboration with ITE College Central, Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) and Temasek Polytechnic (TP). Click on any of the courses below to find out more!
- NIEC (NP) & NIEC (TP) campuses: Diploma in Early Childhood Development & Education (N96 & T68)
- NIEC (NP) campus: Diploma in Tamil Studies with Early Education (N95)
- NIEC (ITE) campus: Higher Nitec in Early Childhood Education (V42)
Both NIEC (NP) and NIEC (TP) offer the Diploma in Early Childhood Development & Education and students get to choose the following specilisation track in their 3rd year*.
- NIEC (NP) campus: Early Intervention or Mother Tongue Language Teaching – Chinese or Tamil Track
- NIEC (TP) campus: Visual Arts or Mother Tongue Language Teaching – Malay Track
*Subject to prevailing terms and conditions.
Our students get to enjoy dual identity where they are both students of NIEC and the polytechnic/ITE college they are in. Let’s find out what life as a NIEC student is like at our campuses!
At NIEC, we offer quality training to develop confident, competent early childhood educators who are work-ready, self-directed, and reflective practitioners. Watch to learn about the skills and knowledge your child will gain by graduation!
Read about our Class of 2024 graduates’ journey and accomplishments at NIEC below!
Our lecturers have more to share too!
I teach a drama module that involves various drama strategies they can apply in the classroom. I give my students roleplay scenarios to help them fully immerse themselves in the strategies. For example, I give some students the role of a teacher doing a dramatic reading of a storybook to their children! This helps them better understand the process of each strategy.
Visual arts have always been a vital area for children’s holistic development in critical thinking, openness to new experiences and creativity. These are 21st-century competencies for a new world we face today. As we train students to be early childhood educators, it is important for them to harness the interest in the visual arts, so that they can create an encouraging and creative environment for children and be the nurturing educator alongside children.
How Can Your Child Apply?
The ITE and Polytechnic admission dates haven’t been announced yet. Do check back on this page for the latest updates!
Here’s how in 3 easy steps:
- Apply via the ITE EAE portal during the application period.
2. Choose up to 3 courses.
3. Submit a write-up (up to around 100 words), list down your talents, aptitude, achievements, passion and interests relevant to the early childhood course.
Here’s how in 3 easy steps:
- Apply via the Poly EAE portal during the application period.
2. Choose up to 3 courses.
- Pro Tip: If you apply for the Diploma in Early Childhood Development & Education (ECDE) in Ngee Ann Polytechnic (N96) & Temasek Polytechnic (T68), they will be counted as 2 choices.
3. Submit 2 write-ups, namely:
- A course-related write-up on your interest in early childhood education (max. 600 characters)
- A write-up on your talents/achievements (max. 1,000 characters)
Before the interview:
If you are shortlisted for an interview, you will receive an email with more details on your e-portfolio requirements and interview process. Do prepare your e-portfolio in advance! It should illustrate your passion for the course, your positive attributes, and your potential to do well as an early childhood educator.
Not sure what to include? Here are some suggestions:
- Your achievements in school/work
- Photos of your interaction with young children
- If you attend NIEC’s Playtime! Event on 11 June, you’ll receive a Certificate of Participation to support your EAE portfolio (Sign up here!)
During the interview:
On the day of the interview, you will answer questions from our panel in a group. You will also work together in your small group to plan and present an activity for young children.
Note: Students who apply for NIEC’s courses via EAE, be it for ITE College Central, Ngee Ann Polytechnic or Temasek Polytechnic, are evaluated by the same NIEC panel.
For more information about EAE, visit here.
For frequently asked questions, visit here.
If you have more questions, email us at admissions@niec.edu.s
Wishing your child all the best, and we look forward to welcoming them to NIEC soon!
