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PETALING JAYA: Opposition politicians have criticized a proposal to establish an “elite” tabika (kindergarten) because they believe it may cause further division in the community.
Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Datuk Seri, urged the government to reject the proposal, adding that Malaysia should move towards the democratization of early childhood education which can provide equality of quality education.
“According to the World Health Organization (WHO), early childhood education or ECD (early childhood development) is very important because it is a fundamental foundation for development and success,” Wan Azizah said in a statement Thursday ( October 1st).
The former Minister for Women, Family and Community Development said that according to WHO, strategic ideas in early childhood education should emphasize the quality of a constructive environment.
He added that this includes an approach to life and education that involves parents, guardians, families and the community.
Wan Azizah also said that the WHO believes that the government and civil society should work with families to provide all children with equitable access to a constructive and quality environment.
“The Tabika elite proposed by Kemas is contrary to this aspiration in early childhood education,” he added.
Wan Azizah said that early childhood education democratization aspirations have pioneered before with plans to incorporate early childhood education institutions through the establishment of a special committee.
“This plan was reported to Dewan Rakyat in November 2018. Cabinet approved the formation of this special committee which will play a role in jointly regulating the establishment and operation of early childhood education institutions in Malaysia,” he said.
Daily News reported that the Community Development Department (Kemas) had revealed plans to establish an elite Tabika, and that its proposal was currently being reviewed by the Rural Development Ministry before being taken to the Cabinet meeting for further evaluation.
If approved by the Cabinet, the Tabika bill will be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat for approval.
Meanwhile, Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh said in a separate statement that the federal government should strive to improve the quality of early childhood education and care rather than widening the gap between children.
“The name of the ‘elite’ kindergarten itself is discrimination. The proposal of this elite kindergarten is ad hoc, hasty and not a comprehensive solution for early childhood education and care,” he said.
Yeoh believed that if the new leadership of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development does not play a key role in discussing such an important issue, a larger gap will be created among rural children.
Hannah said that during the Pakatan Harapan administration, Putrajaya had planned to create a special agency to regulate all early childhood education institutions, which is now run by different ministries.
“Nurseries or nurseries are run by the Department of Social Welfare (JKM) and the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, while Taman Didikan Kanak-Kanak (kindergartens) depend on the Ministry of Education.
“The kindergartens are run by the Ministry of Rural Development, while the Ministry of Unity has a nursery (unity playground),” he said, adding that there are state governments that have their own preschool institutions.
Yeoh also said that it was proposed that the institutions come under the purview of the Ministry of Education, with the aim of facilitating the students’ transition to primary school when they turn seven.
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