High-quality early childhood education lays the foundation for long-term educational success, social participation, and economic productivity. International studies show that investments in early education yield particularly high social returns, especially for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Early childhood learning processes are cumulative: a strong foundation enhances the effectiveness of all subsequent phases of education.
Canada and Singapore serve as exemplary models of how early childhood education can be successfully designed. Both countries focus specifically on high-quality preschool programs for children aged four to six, fostering core competencies such as language skills, mathematical abilities, and social and emotional development. The transition from preschool to primary school is seamlessly organized to ensure continuous learning. Preschool education is free of charge in Canada and either very low-cost or free in Singapore, depending on family income.
Successful systems like those in Canada and Singapore are characterized by mandatory educational frameworks, high quality standards for teaching staff, public funding, targeted support for disadvantaged children, as well as continuous evaluation and evidence-based governance. Programs such as "Response to Intervention" (RTI) in Canada and "KidSTART" in Singapore provide early support for children with special needs.
Clear policy recommendations emerge for Germany: In the two years before school entry, early childhood education should be further specified and expanded. Mandatory educational plans and diagnostic tools should be introduced nationwide to improve the quality and comparability of early childhood education. Regular quality monitoring should be established, and existing programs such as "Language Daycare Centers" should be further developed and extended to additional areas of competence.
Moreover, evidence-based governance is necessary, with all levels – from individual institutions to providers, municipalities, and federal and state governments – collaborating in a data-driven and scientifically supported manner. Early childhood education should be recognized as a strategic reform field and treated as a political priority at both federal and state levels during the upcoming legislative period.
The examples from Canada and Singapore vividly demonstrate: Early childhood education is the key to greater equality of opportunity, social participation, and long-term economic success.
Read the entire analysis: ‘Was Kanada und Singapur über die frühe Förderung von Basiskompetenzen lehren’ here as a PDF. Please note, to date the analysis is only available in German.
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The series informs in a concentrated form about important positions of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung on current topics. The individual issues present key findings and recommendations, offer brief analyses, explain the Foundation's further plans and name KAS contact persons.