[InKunming--Sister Cities]  Pre-school teachers in Singapore are required to attend certified training in early intervention this month, Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing said on Wednesday.

Teachers of the programs, which provides therapy and educational support services for infants and young children with special needs, will have to attend the training within two years of joining the sector, Chan said.

About 80 percent of the course fee for the teachers is covered by subsidies from the Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) Capability Fund, the minister said.

There is also a Development Support Program in place to support children in mainstream pre-schools with mild learning difficulties.

An eight-month course to train the Learning Support Educators to screen the children and carry out in-class support is implemented.

In addition, the Early Childhood Development Agency will support pre-school educators to develop deeper professional competencies and skills by putting in place structured career pathways for the early childhood sector, the minister said.