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In Focus
Launch of Private Pre-school Launching Grant
On 12 April 2010, a government grant scheme for privately owned pre-schools was launched by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as part of the Education Ministry's initiative to enhance the education sub-sectors under the National Key Results Area (NKRA).
Eligible private pre-schools which begin operations this year will be given a RM10,000 start-up grant each to encourage more pre-schools in poor rural and urban areas. So far, 426 pre-schools were eligible to receive the launching grant under this scheme.
The first recipient was Tadika Wawasan Gemilang, Sungai Buaya, Hulu Selangor. A total of 30 pre-school operators received the grant during the launching ceremony. Tan Sri Muhyiddin said that RM4.9 mil had been allocated this year and the amount would be raised to RM5mil a year. He said apart from helping the operators of such pre-schools, the grants would also help improve the quality of education for children attending pre-school.
"Providing quality education should not solely rest on the government alone but such responsibility must be shared by the public and private sectors because the most important objective is to raise the quality of education at all levels, right from pre-school to higher level," he said.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin said to enhance cooperation between private pre-schools and the government as well as encourage the setting up of more private pre-schools, the government would reduce the processing period for application by related agencies like the local councils, Health Department, Fire and Rescue Department, from 40 days to seven days.
"There is no shortcut to success. We want to see every Malaysian receive quality education in whatever socio-economic situation and will always provide assistance to those responsible," he said.
He said under the NKRA, the objective and target was to increase the enrolment of pre-school children aged between four and five to 87 percent by 2012, and the focus would be on poor children in rural and remote areas.
Presently, the ministry has set up 7,511 pre-schools, 8,525 (KEMAS), and 1,643 under the National Integrity and Unity Department. There are also 6,378 registered private pre-schools, bringing an increase in the number of children enrolled in pre-schools by 2.9 percent this year compared to last year (67%).
He added that a national pre-school coordination committee would be established to monitor and coordinate all policies and implementation of private and government pre-schools. The committed will be chaired by the Director General of Education and comprise representatives from KEMAS, the National Unity Department and the private sector.
ASLI 14th Malaysian Education Summit
The event was launched by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education who delivered the keynote address ‘Building Young Minds – Towards Greater Creativity and Innovation in the Education System’.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that there is a need to re-evaluate the country’s human capital development model.
“We need a qualified, competitive workforce with workers who are well-equipped with strategic and creative thinking, and the necessary skills to create and innovate in order for the country to be competitive in a global, knowledge-based economy.”
He explained that the focus of the government has been to provide access and opportunities for education at all levels. However, in order to harness human potential and propel the country’s economic growth, the focus has shifted from providing access to basic education to widening access to quality education under the National Key Result Areas (NKRA) for education.
“The Ministry of Education is implementing a new school curriculum that incorporates the elements of creativity, innovation and living skills into the teaching and learning process.
“I believe that the effectiveness of this new curriculum will depend primarily on the ability of our teachers to improve instructional practices in the classroom. The teaching and learning strategy should employ and enquiry process approach based on constructivism, contextual learning and mastery learning which incorporates a variety of student-centred techniques,” he said.
The Deputy Higher Education Minister, Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah delivered the luncheon keynote address entitled ‘Propelling Malaysia Towards High-Income Economy – The Role and Challenges of Higher Education’.
In his speech, Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah said that educators should not become too obsessed with contemporary functions such as carrying out academic programmes recognised by professionals and rating agencies or making commercial activity one of the performance indicators of a university.
He explained that while these are valid functions, it was important to remember academic freedom. He added that the government is giving more autonomy to universities and he hoped that the universities would make use of this freedom.
He stressed that educators need to empower students and focus on their needs, imagination and aspirations. He explained that students want their voices heard, their roles recognised and issues addressed in a manner that is student-oriented.
“We must revisit the fundamental characteristics of what makes a university great.”
Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah said that we must practise a knowledge culture the answers to what makes a great university can only be achieved through collective consultation and construction.
Other topics discusses during the summit were:
- Ushering Malaysia towards Green Economy – Green Education & Universities
- Malaysia as Regional Hub for Higher Education – Internationalising Higher Education
- Strengthening Institutions of Higher Learning – Academic Integrity and Excellence
- Creativity and Innovation – Shaping Young Talent for Future Workforce
- Development of Higher Education in Malaysia
- Education for Industry – The Role of Vocational and Professional Education
- The Evolving Role of PTA and School Board of Governors – Creating a Holistic Learning Experience
- Strengthening English Proficiency in Schools – Building a Globalised Society and Workforce
- Diversity and Unity in Education
About the Malaysian Education Summit
The Malaysian Education Summit is an education conference that brings together key decision makers, policy formulators, private sector players, educationists, academicians and investors to discuss the critical challenges facing Malaysian education and opportunities available for private sector participation.
About ASLI
ASLI’s mission is to help organisations enhance leadership and strategic capabilities through the interchange of ideas, information and knowledge. ASLI continuously engages in the research and implementation of strategic leadership programmes, publications, conferences, CEO Membership Forums, and international bilateral business missions. All net proceeds from ASLI’s programmes are donated to the non-profit ASLI Foundation. ASLI is also the Malaysian Secretariat of various bilateral Business Councils. Powered byStudyMalaysia.com |