Qualified teachers crucial for early childhood education
MIRI: Childcare centres in the northern region can look forward to quality staff as 38 early childhood education teachers completed their Permata Child Care Course Series 7/2016 here recently.
The course, which started on Sept 17, was held on the weekends and was attended by teachers from Miri, Limbang, Bintulu and Brunei.
Assistant Minister of Tourism Datuk Lee Kim Shin, who was the guest- of-honour at the closing ceremony, congratulated the teachers and reminded all child care centres to register with the Social Welfare Department (JKM).
“Every childcare centre (Taska) must be registered so that JKM can monitor them.
“This is to prevent the children from being taught by inexperienced and uneducated caregivers, and to avoid from having too many children enrolled at one premises.”
According to Lee, under Section 5 of the Taska Act 1984 (amendment 2007) there are four categories of nurseries - at home, institutions, community nurseries and workplace nurseries, all of which must be registered with JKM.
Lee urged more people to join the course and said it was not restricted to females only.
“Taking care of children is a very big responsibility and all participants benefitted from this course. I can see their confidence building up after completing this course.
“I am also proud to see two male teachers joining and hope this will inspire more male teachers to be in this line,” he said.
Lee also lauded the effort done by Miri Registered Child Care Association and pledged his full support towards any activities organised by the association.
Meanwhile, the association’s president Angela Goh said the public are now aware of the importance of attending the course, which is a requirement by JKM.
“The teachers are taught about various child development skills, the criteria and quality of good child care and ways of improving their Taska.
“Some of the participants will be opening their own Taska soon, so this is the best course for them,” she added.
The association will be holding a Home Child Care Course during the weekends here starting from Dec 17 and 18.
“The course is open to the public, and I encourage the retirees to join as well, as this could be their side income.”
Those interested in joining the course can contact Goh at 013- 830 0903 for further details.
Among those present were JKM officer Siti Fatimah Buah, senior trainers Roseline Lee and Hirma Matair.