In the beginning, it’s is more of child care center.

Kindergarten were only set up by the churches in the 1950′s

In late 50′s and early 60′s, education was emphasized. Kindergarten was only for the children from the rich families. There was no professional training for the teachers.

Traditional curriculum was used namely the 3M(Mengira, Membaca, Menulis).

The ministry of Education later reported that children had better achievement if they attended pre-school before heading to primary school.

1969, Asia Foundation gave grant to Worker Society of Malaysia to open 3 children center model at Selangor similar to American “Head Start project”. Target of this preschool is for children from poor families.

1969, KEMAS started to get involved in preschool education in 196 for children from poor family.

1970′s, FELDA established preschool education center.

1973, Malaysian Kindergarten Association was established with the help of Sister Denise Paguatte.

1976, Preschool (TABIKA) of National Unity Department was established.

1980, RISDA established preschool for children of rubber planters.

There are 3 agencies that are responsible towards early childhood education in Malaysia:
- Government
- Social organization
- Private sector

Definition:

• Group settings deliberately intended to effect developmental chnages in children from birth to the age of entering the first grade (Gordon, A.M & Browne, K.W)
• The care and education of children from birth through age eight and includes serving the families (Teacher Education Partnership Commission)

Why we need early childhood education?

• Recognition of the importance of early years e.g. be prepared for primary education, tabula rasa
• Increasing demand for child care and changing enrolment patterns e.g. no one take care of the child at home
• Changes in family life e.g. both parents are working, living away from relatives
• Benefits of early childhood education e.g. learn basic skill for primary education, develop social skills

What is in the early childhood education?
Malaysia National Preschool Curriculum

• Language and communication development
• Moral and spiritual development
• Cognitive development
• Socio-emotion development
• Physical development
• Creativity and aesthetic development

World (general)

• Language development
• Spiritual development
• Cognitive development
• Emotional development
• Physical/Motor development
• Creativity development
• Social development

OH WOW! I’ve been abandoning this blog for a month!! ;p I’m back! Was having such long holiday since December and now… It’s time to go back to school this weekend. Classes will start this weekend. This semester subjects are Foundations of Early Childhood Education and Special Education Needs and Learning.

*LOL* Almost finish the course and we just started with the foundation ;p This is supposed to be the first class in first year. What to do? Not enough student back then.

Got my academic calender and I feel like want to faint -.-” There is practically no holiday at all this year. Since our classes are on weekends and we are supported learning students, in other words almost all of us have day jobs during the weekday, there’s almost no weekend for our semester break or even exam break, so this one whole year will be no break at all. Full swing!

Usually we will have a weekend break when having semester break or study break but not this year. For this semester at least we have but after that, there is none until Raya break which happened to be public holiday -.-” makes no difference.

What to do, if there’s break it will mean we won’t be able to complete the course in time. I need it to be completed the latest this year end. Sigh…

Anyway, I wonder who our new lecturers will be since all the previous lecturers left already. Hmmm…