The role and development of SEED

SEED, an institute that had its roots in 1989 as the Regional Training and Resource Centre in Early Childhood Care and Education for Asia (RTRC Asia), was so named to symbolize its role in sowing the seeds for early childhood education in Singapore. The launch of SEED on 14 September 2009 came around the same time that an $87 billion higher education bill to improve the quality of early childhood education in the USA was passed by the House.  

The institute will concentrate on researching and spreading the best practices of teaching rapidly across the industry, which has a currently has total of 6,500 childcare teachers and 3,500 kindergarten educators. Its renaming from RTRC Asia to SEED was instigated by 2 bodies running on the forefront of early childhood education here. NTUC First Campus is the largest childcare chain while PAP Community Foundation (PCF) is the largest kindergarten operator. 

60 more new childcare centers by First Campus are slated to be opened by the end of next year and will see an employment of 700 more teachers; PCF will build 40 more centers over 5 years. SEED, set up by the labour movement, offers certificate, diploma and degree programmes. In addition, it will offer “bite-sized” courses for teachers so that they can gain new skills and knowledge without taking lengthy leaves. 

Located near the Singapore Art Museum, SEED has been renovated to contain 13 classrooms, up from 4 previously, a bigger library and new study areas. Around $1.5million of funds have been dedicated to offering overseas university scholarships for Masters degrees to its 22-member faculty staff. Applicants must have at least 3 O-level credits for the certificate course. A basic course costs about $2000, while it is $26,000 for a Masters course.  

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