Head start: If we want young Malaysians to succeed in tomorrow’s world, we must start by investing in their early years. — 123rf.com
Early childhood matters more than you think
In Malaysia, as in most parts of the world, we tend to focus on universities when we talk about education. People talk about which degrees to choose, how to get good jobs, and which universities are the best. Parents save money for years to send their children to university.
But while universities are important, we are not having enough conversations about the most crucial years in education – the early years of a child’s life. Research from neuroscience, psychology and education is clear: early childhood, from birth to about age eight, is the most important period for brain development.
During these years, a child’s brain grows faster than at any other time. In the first few years of life, over a million new brain connections are made every second. This is when children learn how to talk, think, play, trust others, and understand the world. These early years shape a person’s future – how they learn, how they behave, and even how healthy they will be.
Yet our society does not place enough value on this stage. Many people still think of early childhood education as just babysitting. Preschools often don’t have enough resources, and early childhood teachers are underpaid and not always respected. This needs to change.
Crucial years
When young children are in a loving and safe environment – where people talk to them, listen to them, read to them, and let them play – they grow up to be more confident, happier, and better learners.
Research shows that children who experience quality early childhood education do better in school, stay in school longer, earn more as adults, and even have better health.
A well-known economist, James Heckman, found that money spent on early childhood gives better results than money spent on university education. Why? Because it is easier and cheaper to help children learn and grow early in life than to fix problems later.
Sadly, we often push young children to sit still, do worksheets, and prepare for exams too early. This takes away their natural love for learning and curiosity.
Varsity obsession
Universities are important. They help students gain knowledge, think deeply, and prepare for careers. But by the time someone reaches university, many parts of their personality, habits and thinking have already been formed.
We expect universities to teach soft skills like resilience, teamwork and problem-solving. But these skills are easier to build when children are still very young. If we don’t help children develop these skills early, it is much harder to teach them later.
Also, putting all our focus on university can be harmful. It creates pressure and makes it seem like university is the only way to succeed. It makes students who choose different paths – like vocational training – feel left out or less important. A strong early foundation gives children more choices and confidence to follow the path that suits them best.
What’s really important
We need to take the early years much more seriously. First, we need a national conversation that gives early childhood the attention it deserves. We should train and pay early childhood teachers well. Their job is just as important as that of secondary school or university teachers. We also need to make sure that all children have access to high-quality early childhood education.
Second, we need to support parents. Parents are the first teachers, and they need time, knowledge and support to raise children well. Policies like paid parental leave, flexible work hours, and good childcare services can make a big difference. Investing in families is investing in education and the future of the country.
Third, we must change how we think. Education is not just about getting a degree. It is about helping every child grow into a capable, kind and confident person. And this growth starts long before they enter a university lecture hall.
A better future
The future of our country depends not only on university graduates, but on the little ones who are just learning to speak, ask questions, share toys, and bounce back from failure. These are the early building blocks of a strong and caring society.
If we want young Malaysians to succeed in tomorrow’s world, we must start by investing in their early years. That is when they learn to learn and when their characters are formed.
Let’s give young children the support they need – at home, in preschool, and in our communities. Early childhood is not a warm-up before “real” education begins. It is real education – and it is where it all begins.
Prof Dr David Whitford is vice-chancellor and chief executive of University of Cyberjaya. He earned a doctorate from Cambridge University and has held leadership roles in medical education. With over 70 research publications on disadvantaged communities and quality healthcare delivery, his academic journey includes positions at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in Dublin and in Bahrain, where he established community-based teaching and led postgraduate studies. The views expressed here are the writer’s own.
