On March 25, 2026, ECE Lecturer Dr. Ken Chan Chung Kit welcomed Ms. Angela Yang, the Director of Professional & Education Development at the PAP Community Foundation, which is the largest preschool operator in Singapore, to give an online guest lecture to BEd ECE students. Ms. Yang’s lecture was titled, “Building Inclusive Foundations: The PCF Sparkletots Experience in Supporting Diverse Families”.
During her talk, Ms. Yang provided a comprehensive overview of Singapore’s early childhood landscape, emphasizing the critical role of home-school collaborations in supporting children’s learning and development within a multicultural context. She shared practical strategies for early childhood educators to engage with families from diverse backgrounds in culturally sensitive and respectful ways.
Student feedback highlighted the value of Ms. Yang’s insights into Singapore’s policies and support systems, particularly in comparison with Hong Kong. One student noted the convenience of preschool operating hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. catered to support dual-income families. Another appreciated the innovative approaches, such as parent-child workshops and parenting conferences, aimed at fostering positive parenting practices.
Reflecting on the session, Dr. Chan remarked, “I believe inviting guest speakers from different countries broadens my students’ perspectives on early childhood education. Ms. Yang’s lecture offered fresh ideas at both policy and program levels, inspiring students to rethink parental involvement in their future classrooms and critically assess their own practices.”