Supporting the Ministry’s Focus on Early Childhood Education

The recent announcement by the Minister of Education, Yang Berhormat Fadhlina Sidek about the ministry’s focus on preschool expansion is a positive step forward towards curbing students dropping out from school. This nip in the bud move also means that more qualified preschool educators are needed to support the ministry’s focus.

As a centre which focuses on providing quality early childhood education since 1993, the Centre for Early Childhood Education (CECE) was established to meet the needs and demands of preschool teachers to obtain proper tertiary qualification. Throughout its 30 years of establishment, the Centre produced close to 3,000 early childhood educators. And in February of this year, CECE was incorporated into Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) to further strengthened the University’s standing in providing quality early childhood qualification.

TAR UMT offers early childhood education at diploma and degree levels. At diploma level, students are equipped with the fundamental understanding and competencies in child psychology, cognitive development, early childhood curriculum and assessment, children with special needs, digital technology in early childhood education, health and safety, school, family and community partnership, as well as early childhood programme administration and management.

Upon completion of the diploma programme, students can enter the second year of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Hons). At degree level, the focus is to provide students with up-to-date knowledge and expertise in child development, early years curriculum design as well as pedagogy in literacy, acts, mathematics and science. In addition, students are also required to complete the practicum placement and micro-teaching in early childhood settings in which students are trained to be competent early childhood educators.

“By incorporating CECE with TAR UMT, we are further strengthening the University’s programmes with CECE’s 30 years’ worth of knowledge and experience in the provision of early childhood education. More so with the announcement by the Minister of Education, TAR UMT can certainly contribute and support the ministry’s focus to expand more preschools in the country,” said Prof Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei, President of TAR UMT.