Educational Qualifications

2016
Doctor of Philosophy (Leadership & Building of Organizational Capacity), University College London, United Kingdom

1992
Master of Education (Administration, Planning and Social Policy), Harvard University, United States of America

1987
Diploma in Educational Administration (postgraduate), National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore

1981
Diploma in Education (postgraduate), Institute of Education, National University of Singapore

1980
Bachelor of Science (Hons) - (Biochemistry), National University of Singapore

Academic and Professional Experience

Professional Experience

2023 to date             
Advisor, National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC)

2019 to date            
Associate Professor, Singapore University of Social Sciences

2014 - 2022             
Advisor, Preschool Education, Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA)

2017 - 2020             
Adjunct Senior Fellow, National Institute of Education, NTU

2017 - 2019             
Adjunct Associate Professor, Singapore University of Social Sciences

2014 - 2019             
Advisor, Pre-school Education, MOE

2004 - 2011             
Divisional Director, Education Programmes Division, Ministry of Education (MOE) (Overseeing Pre-school Education, Special Education, Gifted Education, Psychological Services, Guidance and Counselling, Psychological Assessment and Research, Co-curricular Activities)

2000 - 2003             
Deputy Director, Schools (East) (now redesignated as Zone Director)

1996 - 1999             
Various roles in Schools Division, MOE

1993 - 1995             
Principal, Chua Chu Kang Secondary School

Involvement in selected professional /executive functions

2021 - 2023           
Member, Panel for Evaluation of the DIAN Ambassador Pilot Programme (People’s Association)

2021 - 2023           
Chairperson, Academic Board, SEED Institute

2019 to date          
Member, National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC) Board of Studies

2019 to date          
External Examiner, Higher Diploma in Early Childhood Education Programme, The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK)

2019 - 2020           
Chairperson, NTUC First Campus Research Governance Committee (Jul 2019 – Oct 2020)

2018 - 2021           
Member, Temasek Foundations Innovates, Research Grant Review Sub-Committee

2017 - 2018           
Member, National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC) Protem Steering Committee
Co-Chairperson, NIEC Protem Curriculum Committee

2015 – 2017          
Chairperson, Early Childhood Curriculum Review Taskforce (ECCRT) – EC Teacher Training

2015 - 2017           
Advisor - Taskforce for development of Early Childhood Skills Framework

2014 to date          
Chairperson/Member of various committees at ECDA and MOE

  • Developer & Lead Trainer of the Leadership Series for early childhood centre leaders (ECDA, 2014-2022)
  • Chairperson, Outstanding Leader Awards Selection Committee (ECDA, 2014-2022)
  • Advisor/Member, ECDA Fellows Selection Committee (ECDA, 2015, 2018, 2021, 2024)
  • Nurturing Early Learners (NEL) Review Committee (MOE, 2020-2022)
  • Early Years Development Framework Review Committee (ECDA, 2022-2023)
  • Inclusive Support Programme Resource Panel (ECDA, from 2021 to date)
  • Advisory Committee for Quality Teaching Tool (ECDA, from 2023 to date)
  • Mentor to ECDA Fellows (2015-2022)
  • Review of Inquiry-based Action Plan (IBAP) Projects with ECDA Fellows (ECDA, 2023)

2004 - 2011           
Co-Chairperson of various inter-ministry level task forces for varying duration:

  • MOE-MCYS Pre-School Qualifications Accreditation Committee (PQAC) for EC Teacher Training Courses
  • MOE-MCYS Pre-School Outreach Implementation Committee
  • Inter-Ministry Task Force on Out of School Youths

2004 - 2011           
Member of the following inter-ministry taskforce for varying duration:

  • Inter-Ministry Committee on Disabilities
  • MOE Committee for Coordinating Special Education (CCSE)

2003 - 2011           
Member, Boards & Councils for varying duration::

  • MOE council for partnership with community and parents (COMPASS-Community and Parents in Support of Schools)
  • Singapore Sports Council
  • Temasek Polytechnic Board of Governors
  • National Youth Council

1996 - 2011           
Chairperson for various MOE committees for varying periods of time, including:

  • MOE Corporate Values Taskforce
  • Single Session Schools
  • Training for principals & vice-principals
  • Sabbatical Scheme for Principals
  • Singapore Youth Festival
  • Social & Emotional Learning
  • Education and Career Guidance
  • Pre-school Accreditation (SPARK)
  • Programme for Active Learning (PAL)
  • Youth Olympic Games Education Committee (2010)
  • Asian Youth Games Executive Committee (2009)
  • ASEAN Schools Games 2011

 




Selected Publications

Papers/Thesis/Book Chapters

Sum, C. W., & Ho, S. (In press).
Making progress in outdoor play among preschools in highly urbanized Singapore. In T. Gray, M. Sturges, & J. Barnes (Eds.), The Impact of Risks and Outdoor Play on Children’s Learning - Listening, Responding, and Acting on Collective Voices. Springer.

Lim, S., & Sum, C. W. (2022).
The next phase of developments in Singapore’s ECE: quality in the best interest of all children? In Lee Y. J. (Ed.), Education in Singapore: People Making and Nation Building. Springer.

Sum, C. W. (2021).
Pre-school Education-Realising the potential of each child in the early years. In Mokhtar, I. A. & Ibrahim, Y. (Eds.) Social Context, Policies and Changes in Singapore: Beyond the First 50 Years. Singapore: World Scientific.

Nuttall, J., Grieshaber, S., Lim, S., Yun, E., Oh, J., An, H., Sum, C. W., Yang, W., & Kim, S. (2021).
Workforce diversity and quality improvement policies in early childhood education in East Asia. Early Years. https://doi.org/10.1080/09575146.2021.1888076

Sum, C. W., Lim, S. M. Y., & Tan, C. T. (2018).
Pragmatism in policy making: Influencing alargely privatised early childhood education and care sector in Singapore. In C. Pascal, A. Bertram, & M. Veisson (Eds.), Pedagogic Innovations in Early Childhood Education in Cross Cultural Contexts: Routledge Education.

Sum, C.W. (2016).
Exploring Leadership for Learning in Kindergartens: A case study of Singapore. University College London. (Thesis)

Siraj-Blatchford, I., & Sum, C. W. (2013).
Understanding and advancing systems leadership in the early years. NCTL


Invited Plenary Speeches/Conference Presentations/Papers

Sum, C. W., Sia, A., Lim, C., & Chua, E. (2023).
Creating Meaningful Play and Learning Experiences for Children at Nature Play Gardens. Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) Conference, 27-28 Oct 2023, Singapore.


Lim, S.M.Y. & Sum, C.W. (2023).
Exploring Migrant Teachers’ Well-being and Professional Development Opportunities: Enhancing Cosmopolitan Ethic in Singapore’s Early Childhood Sector. 23rd PECERA Annual Conference, 7-9 July 2023.

Sum, C.W. (2022).
Deliberations on Site-based Learning of Early Childhood Teachers in Singapore. 22nd PECERA Annual Conference, 8-10 July 2022. (On-line)

Sum, C.W. (2022).
Site-based Learning of Early Childhood Teachers in Singapore. Japan Society of Research on ECCE 2022 Symposium, 14 May 2022. (On-line)

Sum, C. W. (2021).
Deliberations on the Nurturing Early Learners’ Framework. Ministry of Education and Training (Vietnam) Early Childhood Conference Ministry. (Invited Speech, on-line)

Sum, C.W. (2021).
Culturally Responsive Learning and Caring for Young Children amid the Covid-19 Pandemic. Panel discussant at the Korean Association for Multicultural Education (KAME) International Conference (On-line).

Sum, C.W. (2021).
What Are Some Key Elements in Capacity Building? Early Childhood Curriculum Leadership and Professional Development in Japan and Singapore: SUSS-CEDEP on-line Symposium.

Sum, C.W. (2021).
Understanding Policy Making and its influence on the Early Childhood Sector. National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC) Professional Symposium. (Invited Speech, on-line)

Sum, C. W. (2019).
The Evolving Early Childhood Care & Education Landscape in Singapore: Efforts to raise quality. The 6th Kindergarten Principals’ Conference of the China National Society of Early Childhood Education, Dalian, China (Invited plenary speech).

Sum, C. W. (2019).
The Evolving Professional Development Landscape for Early Childhood Teachers in Singapore. OMEP Asia Pacific Regional Conference 2019, Kyoto, Japan. (Invited Speech)

Tan, C.T., & Sum, C.W. (2018).
Deliberations on the implementation of the Nurturing Early Learners Framework”. Presentation at the OECD International Roundtable on ECEC Curriculum Frameworks for the 21st Century, MOE Luxembourg. (Invited Speech).

Sum, C. W. (2018).
Professional Development of ECEC Practitioners in Singapore. Invited speaker at the Centre for Early childhood Development, Education and Policy Research (CEDEP) International Symposium, The University of Tokyo. (Invited Speech)

Sum, C. W. (2017).
Building capacity for learning at Preschool Centres. Leadership Forum on ECE: Touching Hearts and Engaging Minds, Universitas Negeri Jakarta. (Invited Plenary Speech)

Sum, C. W. (2017).
Early Childhood Leadership Development in Singapore. Leadership Forum on ECE: Touching Hearts and Engaging Minds, Universitas Negeri Jakarta. (Invited Speech)

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