学前教育是社会问题—专访连氏基金总裁李宝华

Early Childhood Education Concerns Our Society: What Starting Well Means to Mr Lee Poh Wah, CEO of the Lien Foundation

2011年，新加坡连氏基金委托“经济学人信息部”，对45个国家的学前教育作研究和调查，于去年6月发表名为《优良起跑》（Starting Well）的报告。7月，连氏基金接着公布了另一份《给重要幼年的重要意见》（Vital Voices for Vital Years）研究报告，收集了27位学前教育专家的看法及建议，同时开放网上问卷，收集家长对学前教育的意见。8月，家长的网上调查结果出炉。
发起这一系列研究的连氏基金总裁李宝华说：“人们看见实况，感觉不妥，才会发起改革。这是我们委托外国机构独立研究的原因。报告就像一面镜子，让我们诚实地自我反省。”
这一系列研究报告和问卷调查，的确惊醒了梦中人，让新加坡看见现实，看见世界，开始正视学前教育。
《新学》新加坡双语双月刊专访连氏基金总裁李宝华，以他透视真相的眼睛，分析学前教育的种种问题。

The Starting Well Index commissioned by the Lien Foundation was published in June 2012. Produced by the Economist Intelligence Unit, the Index ranked the performance of the early childhood sector in 45 countries. Singapore was ranked 29th. In July, Vital Voices for Vital Years was published. The report brought together 27 leaders in the Singapore early childhood sector, and provided insights into how the country can improve the industry. The Lien Foundation also conducted a parents’ survey on early childhood education in Singapore in August, because Mr Lee Poh Wah, Chief Executive Officer of the Lien Foundation, felt it necessary to hear from parents.
“If you want to seek reformation you need to help people see reality. That’s one reason why we embark on independent research. It’s a mirror, so you can have some honest self-reflection,” said Mr Lee.
The independent research has indeed awakened us from our slumber, and caused us to face reality. In this interview, Mr Lee shared his views and analysed the problems that the early childhood sector faces.