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ECDA Training Award​ (Polytechnic)

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ECDA Training Award​ (Polytechnic)
You are now reading: ECDA Training Award​ (Polytechnic)

ECDA Training Award​ (Polytechnic)

The ECDA Training Award (Polytechnic) is open to students undergoing NIEC's full-time Early Childhood Development & Education (ECDE) diploma courses at either Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) or Temasek Polytechnic (TP).​ Please see detailed list below:​

InstitutionDiploma inYear of Study
NP and TPEarly Childhood Development & Education (ECDE)​1,2,3
NPTamil Studies with Early Education (TSE)​1,2,3

What the ECDA Training Award (Polytechnic) offers

Key support from the ECDA Training Award includes the following:

  • Full course sponsorship of fees, capped at fees payable by Singapore Citizens
  • Learning Resource Grant of $1,050 for study-related expenses
  • Monthly study allowance of $800
  • Professional Development Grant, capped at $1,000 per academic year
  • Other professional development and networking opportunities provided by ECDA

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates for this award should meet the following requirements:

  • Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident.
  • First, second or third year student in a full-time ECCE diploma course at either NIEC (Ngee Ann Polytechnic) or NIEC (Temasek Polytechnic).
  • Not concurrently hold or be serving out their bond for any scholarship, bursary or funding.
  • Keen to start their career in the early childhood sector immediately after graduation.

Conditions of ECDA Training Award (Polytechnic)

Successful applicants will have to sign an agreement with ECDA. Training Award recipients will be required to complete the course successfully according to the following requirements:

Duration to comple​te courseTo complete the course within a maximum of 36 months
Bond period
(Upon completion of course)		Fulfil a year’s bond to the Early Childhood sector (ECDA-registered/licensed pre-school or MOE Kindergarten) for every year of support received, upon completion of course.
Other conditionsSuccessfully complete and fulfil all academic conditions required by the Polytechnics

How to Apply

Application opens at the beginning of each academic year.
All students in their first year of studies need not apply for the Training Award (Polytechnic) as their lecturers will facilitate the application together with their course admission. Year 2 and 3 students may apply through their lecturers.

If you have any enquiries, please e-mail us at ECDA_PP@ecda.gov.sg.

Funding Professional Development (PD) for Training Award Recipients

The Professional Development (PD) Grant of up to S$1,000 per academic year is given to every ECDA Training Award Recipient to attend Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and other professional learning courses conducted locally and supported by ECDA.

The PD Grant is provided on a reimbursement basis and you are required to submit a claim upon completion of the courses. Please download the PD Grant prospectus for more details.

If you have any enquiries, please e-mail us at ECD​A_PP@ecda.gov.sg.

Additional References

Start Well! - Induction Booklet for New Early Childhood Educators

The Induction Booklet for New Early Childhood Educators is developed to help ECDA Training Award recipients assimilate into the EC workforce. It provides an overview of the EC sector and relevant resources to help graduants as they begin their career as an EC professional. Please download a copy of the booklet here.​

E-Resource Guide for Early Childhood Employers

The e-Resource Guide for Early Childhood Employers is specially curated for employers in the EC sector to support new educators in their transition from school to work and career growth. It also contains links to other resources you may find useful for the educators’ professional development. You may download a copy of the guide here​​.​

The ECDA Training Award (Polytechnic) is for students undergoing NIEC's full-time Early Childhood Development & Education (ECDE) diploma courses at either NIEC (Ngee Ann Polytechnic) or NIEC (Temasek Polytechnic).

The award aims to support students who are passionate about working with children and who wish to have a career in the early childhood sector.
Recipients will be eligible for funding support of up to $1,000 per academic year for Early Childhood Care and Education and other professional learning courses supported by ECDA (e.g. specialised courses in art, speech and drama and special needs). This funding support aims to better support recipients to deepen their knowledge and interest in these areas and apply the relevant expertise in the course of their work with children in future.

The PD Grant is provided on a reimbursement basis and recipients are required to submit a claim upon completion of the courses. Please download the PD Grant prospectus for more details.


We strongly encourage our recipients to apply what they have learnt from their polytechnic studies and gain working experience first, before pursuing further degree studies. However, you may appeal to ECDA to defer your bond to pursue the full-time EC degree at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).

ECDA Training Award recipients are only allowed to defer their bond once. If you are an ECDA Training Award (ITE) recipient who had already deferred your bond once to pursue a Diploma in ECCE after graduating from ITE, you will not be able to defer the bond again to pursue degree studies.
Yes, Training Award recipients are required to sign an Agreement with ECDA to ensure that they are committed to fulfil the obligations of the Training Award. We will hold a briefing to share with you on the contents of the Agreement (i.e. the benefits you will receive and the obligations to be fulfilled) and how to sign it.

Yes. You will need to nominate either one or two sureties, with at least one parent as a surety. The Surety/Sureties must fulfil the following requirements:

One Surety

  • Singapore Citizen/Singapore PR
  • Gainfully employed and drawing a gross income of at least $3,000 per month; or
  • Provide proof of asset
  • Above 21 years old, but under 65 years of age
  • Not party to an existing award, bursary, or study loan agreement.
  • Not acting as a Surety or Guarantor in any capacity for any other person in an existing Award, bursary, or study loan agreement.
  • Not an undischarged bankrupt

Two Sureties

  • 1st Surety: Singapore Citizen
  • 2nd Surety: Singapore Citizen/Singapore PR
  • Gainfully employed and drawing a gross income of at least $1,500 per month each
  • Above 21 years old, but under 65 years of age
  • Not party to an existing award, bursary, or study loan agreement.
  • Not acting as a Surety or Guarantor in any capacity for any other person in an existing Award, bursary, or study loan agreement.
  • Not an undischarged bankrupt
No, ECDA Training Award recipients may choose any ECDA-registered/licensed pre-school or MOE Kindergarten to fulfil your bond. While you may change employer/centre during your bond period, you are strongly encouraged to remain in the same centre/organisation in order to gain sufficient experience before moving to the next centre/organisation.
You and your surety will be jointly liable to pay for Liquidated Damages to ECDA if the Training Award is terminated or if you break the bond. The Liquidated Damages are calculated based on the total amount of benefits disbursed by ECDA plus compound interest per annum. The Liquidated Damages will be reduced proportionately if you have served part of the bond.​