In their quest to attract workers to join the early childhood industry, they have rolled out many initiatives such as generous training allowances and public relations campaigns.
But nobody tells impressionable newbies the other side of the story. The dirty, ugly side of working in the early childhood sector.
Until now.
My mother has worked in early childhood (hereafter referred to as ECCE, short for early childhood care and education) for more than 15 years, so I have seen for myself what life on the inside actually looks like. However, do note that everything I have written here contain my own views, not hers. She loves it in that field and I respect that, but there are still some truths that I feel need to be revealed.
So without further ado, the "listicle" (how trendy I am)!
#1 You never stop working.
ECCE is by no means a 9-to-5 job. If you work in childcare, you will work all day and even Saturdays. Those who are lucky enough to work in kindergarten have it a little easier, but be prepared to still have plenty of late days staying in school to redecorate your classroom, attend meetings, and clean endlessly as hygiene is of paramount importance! And forget about enjoying your weekends. Those will be spent planning lessons, marking children's work, shopping for stupid-looking colourful stickers and other assorted kiddy supplies, and staving off hungry sharks. I mean, parents. Which brings me to...
#2 You can never win.
Something about becoming a parent turns even the best of us into fire-breathing monsters. As an ECCE professional, you will learn this the hard way. Parents will complain to you for a myriad of dumb reasons, and if you misjudge your response, they will not hesitate to go straight up to your principal, who will promptly throw you under the bus. Get it into your head now before it is too late: You are always in the wrong, even when you are right.
#3 The pay sucks.
Yes, yes, I know. There are lots of people without jobs so be thankful to have one. But hear me out. In ECCE, salaries for teaching positions begin at just over a thousand dollars per month for fresh diploma holders, and go up to just above $3000. Beyond that, good luck. No matter how many years of experience you have, your pay is stuck at that level. Total greenhorns in other fields earn more than preschool veterans. Let that sink in for a moment...
#4 The job is a thankless one.
In the course of a typical day, you will change diapers, mop up vomit, wipe urine and faeces, get spat on, suffer bites and scratches from angry children, and possibly require a quick trip to the emergency room to receive treatment for hernia. And all that before lunch break. Does anyone ever express their appreciation for your sacrifice for the greater good of society? Hell will freeze over first.
#5 It takes a toll on your health.
Notice how children never seem to stop sniffling and coughing? After a couple of years in ECCE, you will be the same: trapped in an endless nightmare of not being healthy yet not exactly sick either. Forget about your doctor: he will not be able to help you at all. Because that thing inside you is not a virus. It is the curse of being an ECCE professional. And it is chronic and untreatable, unless you quit the sector completely.
Here it is. Five reasons why you should not join the early childhood industry. Again I wish to emphasise that the views expressed in this post are completely my own. There are many people I know like my mother who work in ECCE and love every minute of it, and I take my hat off to them. My aim with this entry was simply to provide a counterbalanced picture to the unrealistically dandy one painted by the government recruitment efforts, so that those who are considering whether or not to become ECCE professionals can make a more informed decision before putting in the time and money to pursue the relevant training. Hopefully this serves to warn off those who would otherwise have been fooled into thinking that ECCE is a bed of roses.
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