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Joel Ng, a student of NIEC’s Diploma (Conversion) in Early Childhood Care & Education – Teaching (DECCE-T), shared his transition from marketing to early childhood education in a recent CNA article. This change was inspired by his child’s birth and his wife’s influence as an early childhood professional.

In the article, Joel shares how his previous job limited his time with his son and the efforts he made to strengthen their relationship. Observing his wife’s meaningful interactions with their child ignited his desire to learn about early childhood development strategies. To become the father figure he envisioned, Joel bravely left his marketing career to become a trainee teacher, pursuing his diploma in November 2024.

This transition has deepened his connections with his son and allowed him to apply effective development strategies during these critical years. He also discusses the challenges he faced as a male educator, noting the prejudices and hesitations from parents that required time to overcome. He shared that gaining trust through consistent interactions was crucial to breaking prejudices and building a good parent-teacher relationship.

Ultimately, Joel is happy with his decision to change careers, as it has helped provide better support for his child’s learning and development. He finds a renewed purpose in educating the next generation, which brings him great value in his work.