Training for Kemas teachers

BY PRIYA KULASAGARAN

THE Community Development Department (Kemas) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) to train Kemas kindergarten teachers in early childhood development.

A total of 476 Kemas teachers will undergo training and receive diplomas in early childhood development from UPSI.

The first batch of teachers started the course in August this year, and intakes will continue till 2012.

Held in Putrajaya, the event was attended by Rural and Regional Development Minister Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

“Many people think that kindergartens are purely places of play for children,” said Khaled.
“But early childhood education is a serious field and is crucial in developing the minds of our future leaders.”

Muhammad Taib agreed, saying that the programme provided by UPSI will instil a degree of professionalism in Kemas teachers.

“Most of them have been teaching for almost 20 years without any formal training, so this is the next step in providing them with more skills,” he said.

Muhammad Taib added that RM325mil had been allocated under the Ninth Malaysian Plan for the purpose of equipping over 5,000 nurseries and kindergartens in the country with adequate facilities.

The Star Online: 14 Disember 2008