| Govt Plans Comprehensive Policy On Early Education |
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PUTRAJAYA, April 25 (Bernama) -- The government plans to draw up a comprehensive policy on nursing and early education for children below five years' old.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that a working paper on the matter would be submitted to the Cabinet soon.
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia would draft the curriculum for the policy, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the Permata Negara Programme coordinating council at his office here Friday.
He said the children's nursing and early education policy would resemble the ongoing Permata Negara Programme.
"This is because after we implemented the pioneer project nationwide, we found Permata gave a very encouraging effect besides receiving a warm response from the community and parents," he said.
Friday's meeting discussed the plan to expand the Permata Negara Programme. It was attended by representatives from government agencies involved in children's nursing and early education.
So far, 13 Permata Negara centres have been opened for 331 children nationwide.
The programme gives emphasis to developing the children's confidence, creativity and intelligence as well as encouraging them to be of noble conduct with the aim of helping to build human capital with first class mentality.
"Based on the fact that children's early education is the core towards our efforts in moulding quality human capital and efforts to prevent social ills from happening, the focus on children's education is a national strategy capable of bringing about a huge impact not only in the short term but in a long run as well," Najib said.
He said the Permata Negara Programme would be expanded after the government gave its approval.
The Education; Women, Family and Community Development; Rural and Regional Development; and Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage ministries have agreed for the programme to be standardised.
"In other words, they will use the Permata curriculum at their nurseries and at the same time raise the qualification of their teachers to diplomas and first degrees.
"Besides, they will also use the Permata curriculum and the buildings used will also follow the Permata Negara Programme's guidelines," Najib said.
The deputy prime minister said that with strong support from all the ministries, the programme could be expanded further.
"The policy will also take into account the need for funds, training, curriculum and so on. I need to stress here that the programme is multiracial and we will focus on all areas," he said.
He said that after the policy had been drafted, all quarters involved in nursing and early education of children below five years' old would adopt the policy.
-- BERNAMA
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