Fatimah: Research on preschoolers ready by year-end

KUCHING: Research on the development of a holistic instrument to measure the readiness of preschoolers to receive formal education will be completed by year end.

According to Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, the research is being conducted by Dr Hwa Tee Yong, Nor Hazizah Julaihi and Chan Ai Nyet from UiTM Kota Samarahan.

“The first phase has been completed recently, which involved skills such as communication, attitude, physical and aesthetic, science and math, and also several other skills,” said Fatimah.

The first phase (of the research) has been completed recently, which involved skills such as communication, attitude, physical and aesthetic, science and maths, and also several other skills. Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development

She said this after attending a briefing and witnessing the signing of Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) between her ministry and UiTM on the research instrument at Bangunan Baitulmakmur, here yesterday.

Fatimah added that the research would now focus on the profile of the preschoolers and the final details of the research.

“Once completed, the instrument will be ready for use by the ministry next year,” she added.

Fatimah said the instrument was vital to identify the readiness of a child, and to ensure that the state's vision to empower early child education could be achieved.

“We hope this research will enable parents, especially, to know the readiness level of their children to attend preschools,” she said.

UiTM rector Prof Datuk Dr Jamil Hamali and permanent secretary to the Ministry of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dr Saadiah Abdul Samat were also present.