Nurturing early childhood care educators
WITH calls for improvement in early childcare services, the Education Ministry has made it a mission to ensure that all Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) educators have the minimum qualification of a diploma in early childhood education by 2020.
Among the initiatives spearheaded is to improve the efficiency of early childhood care and the expansion education facilities for children with special needs.
As a trusted pioneer in providing ECCE programmes, SEGi embraces this need as a higher learning institution recognised as “the first Malaysian university that earned five stars for prioritising society’s needs in Malaysia” in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Stars ranking 2016, an international evaluation system for universities based on auditing.
SEGi has produced thousands of ECCE educators and practitioners since 1998 and was named the champion of ECCE training by Pemandu in 2010 for the National Key Economic Area Entry Point Project 2.
Its Diploma in Early Childhood Education programme is open to SPM/STPM/UEC holders. The programme caters to the needs of in-service teachers with its flexible learning hours and short study duration of two and a half years. The diploma programme is structured to cater to SEGi’s UK degree programme.
For those who wish to further their qualification in the field, the BA (Hons) Early Years Education programme is an ideal choice. Students who have completed the DECE programme qualify to advance into Year Two of the degree programme.
The 3+0 degree programme, held in collaboration with the University of Greenwich, UK, provides graduates with global acclaim in the field.
Through its curricula, students are exposed to key issues relevant to the future planning of ECCE in the country. SEGi graduates are high in demand locally and abroad. Supported by SEGi’s linkages with over 100 local and international ECCE agencies, graduates are assured of easy access to internship and employment opportunities.
SEGi Sarawak aims to provide accessible and quality early education to children in Sarawak. This is testament to the six-star rating earned by SEGi Sarawak in the 2016/2017 MyQuest ratings as a provider of premier quality education in the field – the only college in Kuching to earn such a distinction.
SEGi Sarawak academic head Dr Wendy Hii said the programme, which started in 1999, boasts a high employment rate of 100%, with some graduates working in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
“Students engage in a variety of learning methods and learning takes place both within and outside the classroom. Knowledge acquisition, skill mastery and development of attitudes and behaviour take place when students engage in classroom activities such as independent study and small group self-supported study, presentations, roleplay and simulations, as well as workshops and demonstrations,” she explained.
In catering to the country’s call for quality ECCE and issues faced in childcare, students also undergo work-based learning and experience throughout the programme. The experience acquired gives them the opportunity to translate theory into practice.
SEGi College Sarawak also encourages students to join clubs, societies, sports and department projects such as Appreciation Day for Early Childhood Professionals, Career Fairs as well as conferences and workshops.
Among the ECCE events that SEGi participates in are the Persatuan Bagi Kebajikan Kanak-Kanak Terencat Akal Sarawak Charity Sale, Cardboard City 2018 on World Architecture Day and the 2017 SeDIDIK parent-teacher day.