Fair Rest for Early Childhood Educators: Reconsider ECDA’s Decision

Early childhood educators in Singapore are dedicated professionals who work long hours caring for our youngest learners. Yet, ECDA’s recent decision to deny time off in lieu for public holidays falling on Saturdays sends a disheartening message: our time and well-being do not matter.

When public holidays fall on Saturdays, many professionals receive a replacement day off. Educators, however, are expected to continue working, while preschools remain open for parent's convenience. This creates burnout, fatigue, and a deep sense of being undervalued.

Why This Matters?

• It demoralizes an already overstretched workforce, pushing many to consider leaving the profession.
• It contradicts ECDA’s stated commitment to teacher well-being, essential for quality early education.
• It places parental needs above educator's, turning educators into default caregivers rather than respected professionals.

All Educators, But Not Treated Equally.

Primary and secondary school teachers get time off in lieu. Preschool educators don’t. Why? We’re all in education. We all shape young minds. But why are we treated differently? Is it because our students are younger? Does it mean that our time as Early Childhood educators are worth less because they need more care? That logic is flawed.

The Decision-Making Process

ECDA’s survey was prematurely concluded, despite over 30,000 responses, many supporting educators. The lack of transparency and absence of educator’s voices in media coverage has only deepened the sense of exclusion. The survey also shows more parents than educators participated, also a natural outcome given the larger parent population in Singapore.

For example, CNA’s article on 4 April 2025 highlighted parent's struggles, but not a single educator was interviewed. This already shows the disregard of the voices of Early Childhood Educators in the mainstream media. Comments like "parents want to save their leave days", "if parents have planned meetings that cannot be changed" highlights the complete indifference that educators too have preferences to save their leave days too, some are parents themselves, and have responsibilities and commitments.

Are we not entitled to rest? To family time? To be heard?

A Call for Fairness

If full Monday closures aren’t possible, then compensate educators with additional annual leave days for each Saturday public holiday. This small change can go a long way in showing that our rest, well-being, and dignity matter too.

This isn’t just about one policy. It’s about respect. Let’s stand together and demand better. If we stay silent now, we normalize a system that continues to push educators to the edge. We must speak up for ourselves, for our profession, and for the children we teach.