Intellectual, emotional and physical stimulation are essential in children’s formative years

Datuk Dr Chiam Heng Keng

ECCE Week aims to raise awareness of the importance of early childhood care and education.

Intellectual, emotional and physical stimulation are essential in children’s formative years. 

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Council has declared next week ECCE Week to highlight the important work their members do.

The council was established under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) in 2010 as early child education is recognised as one of the key areas that can contribute to Malaysia’s quest to be a developed country.

“Quality early childhood care and education is the key to human capital development, and quality early childhood educators are the key to quality early childhood education. These educators are the unsung heroes which the nation should honour,” says ECCE Council chairman Datuk Dr Chiam Heng Keng (pic), who has been at the forefront of child development and early childhood education in Malaysia. (see main story)

The main theme of ECCE Week is We Love, We Care, We Teach. One of the sub-themes is “playing is where learning begins”. “Play is central to quality childhood education as it encourages the development of a child from all aspects. 

“Through play, children develop their psycho-motor skills, creativity and social emotional skills. They learn how to develop leadership, communication and problem solving skills,” says Dr Chiam.

The other sub-themes are celebrating diversity, teaching and teacher matters and mobilising resources in the community. 

To start off ECCE Week, a Walk-cum-Hunt is being held tomorrow at Perdana Botanical Garden (formerly Lake Gardens) in Kuala Lumpur. 

There is also the Intervarsity Challenge on Oct 16 to close the week-long celebrations. The event provides undergraduates in Early Childhood Education with an opportunity to interact and network. Students are required to participate in a telematch and exploration test. 

Childcare centres, preschools, institutes and the community are encouraged to organise events on a small and large scale, too. The activities include organising talks for parents and the community about ECCE, collaborate with childcare centres and preschools to have a mini-carnival and community-events. – Sheela Chandran