Government appoints SEGi to develop ECCE

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DEFINING MOMENT: Deputy director of teachers professionalism development, Azman Kosenan (second right) handing out certificates with SEGi College Subang Jaya principal, Dr Lisa Tan (right) to graduates of the Private Pre-School Teacher Training Programme at SEGi University College.


KUCHING:
SEG International Bhd (SEGi) was recently appointed by the government of Malaysia as the Champion for Entry Point Project (EPP) Two under the Education National Key Economic Area (NKEA) to develop integrated early childhood and childcare education (ECCE) in the country.

The appointment letter was signed by Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Education, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin.

SEGi’s appointment was given on the basis of its expertise and experience in the area of early childhood and childcare education, as well as its strong collaboration with international partners such as Montessori Centre International (MCI), United Kingdom, University of Southern Queensland, Australia and other industry stakeholders in the development and provision of ECCE.

With the appointment, SEGi would lead the initiative in training and developing high quality early childhood and childcare practitioners.

SEGi would also play a lead role in coordinating the establishment of teacher training centres that provide pre-service and in-service ECCE courses recognised by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).

A consortium of private ECCE education and training providers led by SEGi was being established to achieve the government’s target.

More than 6,500 pre-school teachers had undergone the three-week training programme under the off-take agreement between the government and approved private teacher training centres late 2010. Of this figure, SEGi trained the giant share of 2,500 teachers.

According to the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) set by the Ministry of Education (MoE), the cumulative figure of pre-school teachers set to receive the training is 11,000 this year, and the figure is set to grow cumulatively to 45,000 people in 2015 and 157,000 people by 2020.

The MoE also planned to send 1,950 childcare practitioners for training in 2011 and the figure is expected to cumulate to 19,500 in 2015 and 61,500 in 2020.

Diploma level qualifications typically has the duration of two and half years and fees range between RM25,000 to RM30,000.

SEGi’s Subang Jaya branch campus, which currently houses its Faculty of Education and Social Sciences had also been identified as the first ECCE hub in the country.

About 10 private teacher training providers under the consortium led by SEGi were expected to be appointed and receive government support in terms of establishing ECCE hubs across the country.

This appointment was expected to contribute positively to the earnings and net assets of the group for this year and the future years.

The exact contributions had yet to be ascertained as discussions on the
details and terms are still in progress.

As the champion of the government initiative, SEGi expects to play a key role in the provision of training and accreditation of pre-school teachers and childcare practitioners.