SINGAPORE — The joyous laughter of children alongside shouts for “teacher Ashley” filled the air at a playground in Taman Jurong as 23-year-old Ashley Collins helped a class of three- and four-year-olds down a slide.
The course was first piloted in 2017 by PCS, and scaled up further in 2019 following funding from SG Enable. Currently, preschools under PCS and PCF Sparkletots have hired people like Ms Collins to provide an extra pair of hands in schools. Agreeing, Ms May Koh, general manager of Enabling Academy under SG Enable, said: “Persons with disabilities also display resilience amid challenging life circumstances, placing them in good stead to serve as positive role models for children.”
In February 2023, she joined PCF Sparkletots at Taman Jurong as an assistant teacher on a year-long contract. While it may have been only six months, the children under Ms Collins have bonded with her. “I’ve learnt this from my teachers, to point and ask the children what’s going on so they focus in class and are not distracted,” she said.
“The children are not used to them and will come up to me to ask questions. The teachers are also not used to the classroom and may ask me things,” she said. “It can be quite overwhelming.”“I’m quite nervous and shy, but I’m more confident now. They’re the ones who pushed me to do this interview,” Ms Collins admitted sheepishly.
While their interactions are minimal — Ms Collins is usually around to help them pick up their children — one parent said her son is always talking about her.