Shaping early childhood educators
THE early years are important as it is the stage where parents and teachers are able to discern a child’s ability to learn and develop according to their developmental stage.
Without proper training and formal education, preschool teachers may not be as equipped to manage or teach a child of the 21st century, using comprehensive tools and techniques that are suited to their terrains as there is no one-size-fitsall approach towards early education.
Thus, it becomes all the more important for early childhood educators to be equipped with the right skills and knowledge to provide the right foundation to these children to nurture them into responsible, caring and holistic individuals.
However, the Malaysian Online Journal of Educational Management in one of its more recent publications, revealed that a Pemandu study found a huge percentage (93%) of preschool teachers are formally untrained, leaving their methods and level of competency highly questionable.
SEGi Group of Colleges (SGC), known as a trusted pioneer in providing Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programmes, cares for the development of a progressive Malaysia and is in line with the Ministry of Education’s approach to ensure that all ECCE educators have the minimum qualification of a Diploma in Early Childhood by 2020.
Apart from the award-winning and high-ranking study programme and methodologies, students who choose to study with SGC have the opportunity to engage in a variety of learning methods both within and outside the classroom.
Students are also thrown challenges from time to time to help them through their coursework and collaborative work, and inculcate qualities such as patience, tolerance, resilience, sensitivity and even a sense of humour.
Their communication and interpersonal skills, as well as decisionmaking and problem-solving skills are also tested.
The course assignments and the mandatory taska and tadika practicums give the students ample opportunities to translate theory into practice, helping them to be better prepared for the industry upon completion of their study.
In addition, SGC’s comprehensive industry network also exposes them to enrichment programmes such as talks, forums and other activities to widen their horizon and help them understand the current needs and trends in the field.
SGC offers an impressive range of ECCE programmes, such as:
• Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Early
Years Education 3+0 (offered in collaboration with University of Greenwich (UoG), UK)
• Bachelor of Education (Hons) Dual Degree (University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN), UK)
• Diploma in Early Childhood Education
• Diploma in Early Childhood Education Online
• Diploma in Psychology
• Certificate in Early Childhood Care and Education
• Master of Education by Research
• PhD in Education by Research
• Foundation in Arts
■ Want to be part of the foundation that moulds the next generation of Malaysians leaders?
Learn more about ECCE programmes at SEGi Group of Colleges, log on to www.segi.edu.my, or call 03-2070 2078 (SEGi College Kuala Lumpur), 03-8600 1777 (SEGi College Subang Jaya), 04-263 3888 (SEGi College Penang), or 082-252 566 (SEGi College Sarawak).