KLC International Institute (KLCII) mourns with great sorrow the passing of Professor Zhu Shiyuan, who passed away on 3 November 2026 aged 91. We remember her with great fondness pay tribute to a scholar and teacher who deservedly earned the affection and respect of generations of educators.
Professor Zhu devoted her career to preschool education research and teacher training. At Beijing Normal University (BNU), she directed the Preschool Education Research Unit in the Department of Education. She served as Vice-President and Secretary-General of the China National Society of Early Childhood Education, chaired the China National Committee of OMEP (World Organisation for Early Childhood Education) and was a member of the Arts Education Committee of China’s Ministry of Education. As Senior Adviser on Chinese Early Childhood Education at KLCII, she helped advance professional training for Chinese-language preschool teachers in Singapore and the wider South East Asian region.
Building a partnership between China and Singapore
In 1993, the late Professor Gerald Ashby, Head of Early Childhood Education at the Queensland University of Technology in Australia, introduced KLCII to BNU, a leading Chinese university for teacher education. Professor Zhu, then Head of BNU’s Department of Preschool Education, travelled to Singapore to explore a partnership. Impressed by the country’s bilingual policy and its commitment to Chinese-language education, she supported a joint programme to prepare teachers for Singapore’s preschools.
Under her guidance, Professor Zhu helped with the development of content and pathway alignment for higher progression into BNU’s Joint Diploma and Early Childhood Degree in Chinese Early Childhood Education. This content was endorsed and approved by China’s Ministry of Education. The collaboration framework set a precedent for future Chinese universities’ partnerships with overseas institutions to offer Chinese programmes together
Raising the Standards of Chinese-Language Teaching in Singapore Preschools
Professor Zhu played a pioneering role in advancing Chinese early childhood education in Singapore. Through the collaboration between BNU and KLCII in Singapore, she was instrumental in developing Singapore’s first Chinese Diploma in Early Childhood Education, which welcomed its inaugural intake in May 1995. This landmark initiative laid an important foundation for Chinese early childhood educator training in Singapore, with the programme continuing to evolve over the years in line with Singapore’s national early childhood education frameworks and accreditation standards.
In 2004, KLCII and BNU further strengthened this educational pathway with the introduction of a Chinese Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education, providing Chinese-language preschool educators with opportunities to deepen their professional knowledge, enhance their teaching competencies and pursue higher academic qualifications. In total, Professor Zhu’s involvement in the development of KLCII’s Chinese early childhood education programmes has trained close to 14,000 graduates, who continue to contribute to Singapore’s preschools.
Professor Zhu helped design the curriculum and shape its teaching. Drawing on her research and classroom experience, she personally trained hundreds of teachers in Singapore. She also tapped on her extensive academic network in China to invite experienced Chinese senior professors to teach at KLCII in Singapore. The Chinese professors worked alongside Singaporean educators to strengthen preschool teachers’ professional knowledge and classroom practice.
Passing on a Love of the Chinese Language
After retiring from BNU, Professor Zhu served as Senior Adviser on Chinese Early Childhood Education to KLCII and Kinderland International Education (KIE), both organisations within the Crestar Education Group (CEG). While based in Singapore in 2001–2002, she helped Kinderland develop a series of Chinese books for young children and its first Chinese-language immersion curriculum. Classic children’s literature gave children a natural way to discover Chinese culture and develop a love of the language.
Today, preschools under the CEG in Singapore and Malaysia still use the foundations of the Chinese curriculum she pioneered. These stories remain an integral part of children’s daily experience of learning Chinese.
Remembering our Mentor and Teacher
Those who studied or worked with Professor Zhu remembers her scholarly rigour, humility and kindness. She shared her knowledge freely and gave colleagues her time and encouragement.
At CEG and KLCII, we remember with gratitude the contributions she made in shaping our preschool landscape. Her professionalism and dedication continue to guide us. Her legacy lives on in the programmes she helped establish, the teachers she trained and the many educators she inspired.
We are deeply grateful for Professor Zhu’s invaluable contributions to the development and advancement of Chinese-language early childhood education in Singapore. Her dedication and pioneering efforts have left a lasting impact on generations of children, educators and families.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Professor Zhu’s family, friends and loved ones.
May you rest in peace. Your legacy will stay with us.
