ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN EARLY CHILDHOOD LEADERSHIP (ADECL)
ABOUT ADECL
The ADECL is designed to prepare Senior Preschool Teachers for the role of centre leadership. It is offered by the National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC) and there are three intakes a year (April, July1 and October).
Early childhood (EC) educators may select one of the following options to enrol2:
1. Option A: ADECL Full Qualification
2. Option B : Modularised Structure
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The ADECL aims to enable candidates to:
1. Evaluate issues and practices in early childhood services
2. Reflect on one's personal philosophy, values and beliefs and formulate strategic/ organisational goals to meet the needs and aspirations of the centre, families and community stakeholders
3. Lead in the review, planning and implementation of the curriculum for the holistic development of children
4. Build a culture of collaboration and continuing professional development through leading and managing early childhood educators in their practice, professional development and well-being
5. Lead in establishing strategic partnerships with stakeholders
6. Manage centre operations, including Human Resource Management (HRM) matters, industry regulations and crisis management
1NEW: Classes will be conducted on 3 weekday afternoons for the July 2021 intake.
2Further information on options to enroll can be found under ‘Programme Details’.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Option A: ADECL Full Qualification | Option B: Modularised Structure
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• Have completed an ECDA-recognised diploma in early childhood care and education3 • Be an ECDA-certified Level 2 preschool teacher • Have met the competency level for Senior Preschool Teacher (with reference to the Skills Map4) • Have completed the pre-requisite core course(s) as identified by ECDA and offered by NIEC5 | • Have completed an ECDA-recognised diploma in early childhood care and education3 • Be an ECDA-certified Level 2 preschool teacher
• Have at least 3 years of trained teaching experience6
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3The list of ECDA-recognised diplomas in early childhood care and education will be determined by ECDA, and will be subjected to review periodically. Some examples of current ECDA-recognised diplomas in early childhood care and education are:
1. Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education – Teaching (DECCE-T)
2. Diploma in Child Psychology & Early Education (CPEE)
3. Specialist Diploma in Preschool Education (SDPE)
4. Diploma in Early Childhood Studies (ECS)
5. Diploma in Psychology Studies with Specialist Diploma in Early Childhood Teaching
6. Diploma (Conversion) in Kindergarten Education Teaching (NVKET)
7. Advanced Diploma in Kindergarten Education Teaching (ADKET)
8. Diploma in Early Childhood Studies (SIM)
9. Diploma in Early Years Teaching
10. WSQ Professional Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education (WSQ PDECCE)
11. WSQ Professional Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education (Childcare) (WSQ&PDECCECC)
12. Diploma in Preschool Education - Teaching (DPE-T)
4The Skills Map is part of the Skills Framework for Early Childhood Care and Education (SF for ECCE). Please see ECCE Skills Map - Teacher Track for the skills for Senior Preschool Teacher.
5The pre-requisite core course for the ADECL is ‘Mentoring for Professional Growth (LMAMFPG17E)’. This course was previously known as ‘Mentoring for Success (LMAMNFS14E)’. Candidates need to complete Mentoring for Professional Growth latest by Apr 2021 in order to be eligible for ADECL nomination for Jul 2021. With effect from Jun 2021, the pre-requisite course for ADECL, Mentoring for Professional Growth, will be replaced by 2 CPD courses: Mentoring 101: Bringing out the Best in EC educators and Mentoring 201: Bringing out the Best in EC educators. Candidates need to complete either Mentoring for Professional Growth by May 2021 or Mentoring 101: Bringing out the Best in EC educators and Mentoring 201: Bringing out the Best in EC educators latest by Jul 2021 in order to be eligible for ADECL nomination for Oct 2021. Details of the courses may be found in the CPD Prospectus and ONE@ECDA.
6The number of years of trained teaching experience will be calculated from the date of the applicant is conferred or awarded the ECDA-recognised diploma in early childhood care and education. All trained teaching experience has to be within the Early Childhood sector.
PROGRAMME DETAILS
| Option A: ADECL Full Qualification | Option B : Modularised Structure |
Target
Group | Experienced teachers keen to obtain a full qualification in EC leadership, to become Centre Leaders.
| Experienced teachers keen on learning about fundamentals of EC leadership through a modular course. |
Description | • Enrolment into the full ADECL programme to complete all 3 Post-Diploma Certificates (PDCs). • A Certificate, issued by NIEC, will be awarded upon successful completion of each PDC • Upon successful completion of the 3 PDCs within the 3-year maximum candidature period, the candidate will be conferred the ADECL by NIEC. | • Enrolment into PDC 1 as a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course only. The validity period of the ADECL PDC1 is 4 years from the time of enrolment of the 1st module of PDC1. • Conferment of the PDC in Fundamentals of Early Childhood Leadership upon successful completion of PDC 1. • Upon completion of PDC 1, those who wish to complete the full ADECL will have to meet the eligibility criteria for the ADECL Full Qualification (Option A) and be nominated for the ADECL. • After being admitted into the ADECL programme, candidates would have to complete PDCs 2 and 3 within 3 years. |
Duration | 850 hours
| 180 hours for PDC1 |
Mode of Application | By nomination only. All Option A applicants must be nominated. |
Online application at NIEC website only. No nomination is required for PDC 1 as CPD. Nomination is only required when candidates decide to enroll in the ADECL full qualification upon completion of PDC 1. Candidates are to produce PDC 1 Certificate and/or Statement of Results prior to progression to PDC 2 (subject to meeting the full eligibility criteria).
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POST-DIPLOMA CERTIFICATES
Refer to attachment for further information on ADECL PDCs 
. For more info on course structure and course fees, pls refer to: https://www.niec.edu.sg/courses/advanced-diploma-in-early-childhood-leadership-adecl/. For questions on enrolment, please write to: contact_niec@niec.edu.sg.
CLASS DETAILS
#Course schedule and venue are subject to changes. NIEC reserves the right to reschedule/cancel any programme and amend information without prior notice.
* For the ADECL intake at TP: Supervised Leadership Practice I & II in PDC1 & 2 will fall on some Fridays.
NOMINATION / APPLICATION PROCESS
Option A: ADECL Full Qualification
• The nomination period for the 12th intake of the ADECL (commencing July 2021) is from 22 Feb to 19 Mar 2021 (5pm)*.
• The nomination period for the 13th intake of the ADECL (commencing Oct 2021) is from 22 Feb to 23 Apr 2021 (5pm)*.
Nominator Step • Discuss nomination with nominee • Complete nominator form by • 19 Mar 2021 (5pm) for July 2021 intake
• 23 Apr 2021 (5pm) for Oct 2021 intake
• Nominator SingPass needed • Receive acknowledgement email
| Nominee Step • Receive notification to complete nominee form
• Complete nominee form by
• 19 Mar 2021 (5pm) for July 2021 intake
• 23 Apr 2021 (5pm) for Oct 2021 intake
• Nominee SingPass needed
• Receive acknowledgement email
| Outcome Notification
Nominee and Nominator
• Receive outcome email in April (July 2021 Intake) / June (Oct 2021 Intake)
• Successful nominees will receive instructions to apply to NIEC for ADECL
• Eligible nominees will be informed to apply for SkillsFuture Study Award*
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*All late nominations will not be accepted.
Please note that the nominator and nominee must use their own SingPass to complete the respective forms.
Form details cannot be saved to submit later. Nominators and nominees are advised to have all details and information ready before they access the online form.
If you have any clarifications or queries, please email ADECL@ecda.gov.sg.
*Successful nominees who are Singapore Citizens and have enrolled successfully for ADECL may apply for SkillsFuture Study Award ($5000 cash).
Option B: Modularised Structure
The projected application period for the Post-Diploma Certificate (PDC) in Fundamentals in Early Childhood Leadership (PDC 1 of the ADECL) as a CPD course for July 2021 intake and Oct 2021 intake is in May 2021 and June/July 2021 respectively.
Please see https://niec.edu.sg/courses/postdiplomas/advanced-early-childhood-leadership/ for details on application period for the Post-Diploma Certificate (PDC) in Fundamentals in Early Childhood Leadership (PDC 1 of the ADECL) as a CPD course.
SKILLSFUTURE STUDY AWARD FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD (EC) SECTOR
The SkillsFuture Study Award for the Early Childhood (EC) Sector is designed to support experienced EC educators to deepen their skills and prepare them to take on larger job roles in the sector. Successful applicants of the Study Award will receive a monetary award of $5,000, which can be used to defray any out-of-pocket expenses associated with the ADECL. The award is bond-free and can be used on top of existing Government course fee subsidies.
To find out more on SkillsFuture Study Award for EC Sector, click here.
Information updated as at March 2021
