Early Childhood Education,

the Malaysian Perspective

Radziah M. Daud
President NAECCEM
26th August 2013
University of Tampere
Finland

Highlights
1

Introduction

The journey of ECCE

ECCE Institutions

Governments Support

Moving Forward

Map of Malaysia

Malaysia at a glance

South China Sea

Consists of 14 states.
Average temperature - 27C.
Population 2012 census - 29
million.
Growth rate 1.7%.
Multi- racial, multi-ethnic,
multi- religious & multicultural.
Ethnic groups; Malays
(50.4%), Chinese (23.7%),
Indian (7.1%), indigenous
people (11%) and others
(7.8%).

Government Federal Constitutional elective monarchy and federal parliamentary

democracy
Official religion Islam. Constitution guarantees freedom of religion for other races.

Ethnic group
Malay

Chinese

Others

Indian

indigenous

11,00%
7,10%
7,80%

50,40%

23,70%

Source : CIA World Factbook

Faces of Malaysian Children

Faces of Malaysian Children

Childrens Perception

The Indigenous Children

Food Fusion

Traditional Games

The Journey of ECCE in Malaysia

History
Early 80s, Malaysia received international funding
UNICEF
Bernard Van Leer
For national surveys and research in:
maternal and child health early childhood education and other fileds.
Since the mid 80s to present time Malaysia has made the fasters growth in
realizing quality care and education for children under 5s.
Due to hard work of numerous child based NGOs and with the help and
support of key government officials and leadership that has been significant
transformation in the delivery in high quality services particularly to
disadvantaged group and the urban poor children and their families.

Age Pyramid
0-14 years: 29.4%
15-24 years: 17.2%
25-54 years: 41.2%
55-64 years: 7.1%
65 years and over: 5.1%

Governments Support
The Malaysian government places a strong emphasis on ECCE and has
formulated the National Policy for Early Childhood Care and Education.
Under this policy, programmes have been introduced to meet the diverse
needs of the crucial early years of newborns till the age of six.
Provide a foundation for healthy growth and development which
expose them to activities in nation building.
Enhance their readiness for primary school education.
Numerous initiatives to make early childhood programmes more
accessible especially for urban disadvantaged children through
allocation of funds.

Types of ECCE
Childcare Centres (TASKA)

Children 0-4 years old.

Licensed by the Social Welfare
Department in Ministry of Women,
Family and Community Development.
Childcare Centre Act 1984.
Government-owned Child Care Centres .
Workplace Child Care Centres.
Institution-based Child Care Centres with
10 children or more.

Preschool or Kindergarten
Kindergarten
(TADIKA)

Ministry of Rural and

Regional Development

Department of National
Unity and Integration

Children 4-6 years old.

Pilot project began 1992
and extended to the entire
nation by 1993 till now.
Licensed by the Education
Department, Ministry of
Education.
Education Act 1996 (Act
550) (4-6 years old)
Currently 8,000
preschool Annex through
out the country.
National Curriculum 2003

Children 4-6 years

old.
Pioneer setting ;
1970s.
Currently 10,960
centres .
Location; Rural or
Suburban areas.
National Curriculum
2003

Children 4-6 years

old.
Established in urban
areas.
Currently 1,781
centres in the urban
areas
National Curriculum
2003

The Journey of ECCE

Preschool for Special
Needs
2000 started an early
intervention
programme
Children 4-6 years old.
2003; 28 special schools.
5 for the visually
impaired and 1 for those
with learning
disabilities.
Grants for NGOs for
severely disable
children.

Plantation Sector

Establish creche
under Standard Act,
Minimum Housing
and Workers
Facilitation 1990.
Monitored by the
Ministry of Human
Resouces.

Childcare Centres @
Workplace
49% of workforce is
women.
A need for alternative
care.
Ministry of Women,
Family & Community
Development
encouraging government
ministries and corporate
bodies to set up childcare
@ workplace.
Grant of 200,000 for cost
of setting up.
Incentive 10% tax
exemption.

Childcare Centres @ Workplace

Training Institutions

Offers
Certificate,
Diploma, Degree
& Masters in
Early Childhood.
To ensure high
quality in Early
Childhood
Services for the
early years.

Moving Forward
Y.A.B. Tan Sri Dato' Haji Muhyiddin
Bin Haji Mohd. Yassin
Minister of Education
Malaysia
Transformation for nations education system through Malaysia
Education Blueprint moving towards world class and quality
education 2013 to 2025.
5 aspirations for education system:
Increase accessibility
Improved quality
More balance equity
Forged Unity
Heightened efficiency

PERMATA Negara
PERMATA Negara Early Childhood Care & Education
(ECCE) programme:
Brainchild of our First Lady of Malaysia, Datin Paduka
Seri Rosmah Mansor.
Mooted in 2005 together with 25 professional women.
Presented proposal to the Cabinet.
Approved on 21 June 2006 with the grant of RM 20
million.
Pilot Project launched in 2007 with 5 centres.
Curriculum developed based on Sure Start
programme modified to our Malaysian mould.
Teacher training conducted by Universiti Pendidikan
Sultan Idris & Universiti Putra Malaysia.

PERMATA Tasik Chini

PERMATA Tasik Chini

PERMATA Kepala Batas

PERMATA Mempaga

PERMATA Subang Jaya

PERMATA Presint 16 Putrajaya

Expansion of PERMATA Programme

Positive Findings by National Child Development Research Centre
(NCDRC) government approved an expansion programme.

660

PERMATA Negara, Prime Ministers Department 79 centres

Ministry of Rural and Regional Development - 354 centres

Department of National and Unity Integration - 40 centres
Yayasan Pembangunan Keluarga Terengganu - 65 centres
Government Workplaces - 122 centres

PERMATA Negara Curriculum

Developed by Academicians and Practitioners.
Launched on 20th April 2013.

Quality Assurance Standard

What Advocates Say

What Our First Lady Says

If we fail to give all our children a good start
in life, we risk failure of many fronts. If we
do not pay attention to our children today,
they may force us to pay them attention as
troubled adult tomorrow.
Early Childhood Education is the
foundation of quality human development.
Indeed, educating our children correctly is
something we must do., not just for the
benefits of the children but also for the
future of the country.
Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor

What Our Prime Minister Says

"Developing Human Capital Begins With Children
on 14th April 2009.

Every child is precious and children are assets to our

society. They are the most valuable resource of the nation. I
believe that developing a nation and its people begins with
early childhood education. While it is the duty of parents to
ensure a child has the opportunities to develop, it is also the
government's responsibility to help parents bring the
potential to fruition.

It reminds me of a Chinese Proverb

If you are thinking a year ahead,

plant a seed
If you are thinking of a decade,
plant a tree
If you are thinking of a century ahead,
educate the people.