SEGi goes to Iran


Workshop participants exploring the properties of the Montessori sensorial apparatus

24 February 2010

Two lecturers from SEGi College Subang Jaya were invited to conduct a 12-day workshop on the Montessori Approach at Tehran, Iran last month. Ms Carolyn Choo and Rosaline Ng were honoured with the task of delivering the Montessori Teacher Training Workshop to 27 eager teachers, principals and parents there.

Mr Yadolla Saeednia, Abroad Development Affair Counsellor of Mofid Educational Complex initiated the workshop so that they could share the principles of the Montessori Approach and their application in the classroom with his countrymen.

He believes the Montessori Approach would be extremely beneficial in upgrading the quality of early childhood education in Iran. At present there is no Montessori school in the country.

“The Montessori Approach has some notable components that make it beneficial and inspiring. I knew that we need a step to start making it familiar for Iranians. I hope to make learning a motivating experience for young children and increase their enrolment in pre-schools through the application of the Montessori Approach,” said Saeednia.

Participants of the workshop were from the best schools such as school principals and experienced teachers. There were also parents keen on applying the knowledge on their own children.

Despite the long 8 hours per day of training for 12 days, participants gave better than expected feedback on the workshop. Mr Saeednia credited this to Rosaline’s and Carolyn’s skills and experience, ”We achieved our aims. In fact, I think based on the participants’ performance and response during the workshop, we exceeded our goals.”

Rosaline Ng and Carolyn Choo with Mr Yadolla Saeednia and family

Mr Saeednia has 28 years of experience in all areas of education. After teaching for 13 years, he became a principal. Soon after, he set up his private school and ran it for 10 years while pursuing his master in educational psychology. The school expanded to a complex K-12 school. He has just completed his PhD in University Malaya.

The trainers – Ms Rosaline Ng and Ms Carolyn Choo – are both very experienced educators. Rosaline has 30 years through all levels of education including that of a Montessori kindergarten. She is a certified Montessori teacher-trainer and the Head of Education of the Faculty of Education, Social & Health Sciences (FOESHS) at SEGi College Subang Jaya.

Carolyn has 20 years’ teaching experience and is a practical examiner for Montessori Centre International, UK. She has conducted Montessori workshops and practical examinations in several ASEAN countries. She is the Head of the Department of Early Childhood Education at SEGi College Subang Jaya.

Participants at the workshop were taught in detail not just the principles of the Montessori Approach but how to utilise and create learning materials for children between 2 and a half to 6 years old.

At the end of the workshop, participants were able to present and design some Practical Life, Sensorial, Mathematics, Literacy, Cultural and Arts activities that reflect the Montessori philosophy and methodology. They were also able to adapt basic Montessori activities to meet the needs of the individual child, taking into account differences in learning styles.

Early childhood educators carry a very big responsibility on their shoulders, as they are the first in line apart from parents to mould a young child’s mind. That is why they are professionals in their own right. As with any career, continuous professional development is just as necessary for early childhood educators.

The early childhood professional is required to have knowledge of how young children develop, a wide understanding of subjects and the most effective methods of working with young children.

In order to give the best services, educators and caregivers in this industry need to constantly update themselves in terms of knowledge of current theories and trends, teaching strategies as well as upgrade their skills. SEGi Education Group is well aware of the importance of professional training for early childhood educators and had taken up the onus of providing this service.

SEGi offers the International Diploma in Montessori Pedagogy in partnership with Montessori Centre International since 1998. The Diploma is recognised by the Ministry of Higher Education.  SEGi owns St Nicholas Montessori Centres located in Bandar Utama, Subang USJ, Klang, Malacca and Penang.

To ensure early childhood educators are updated with the latest knowledge and methodologies, there are short courses in Creative Arts for Young Children, Child Psychology & Development, Music & Movement for Young Children, Nursery & Pre-School Management and Special Educational Needs.

Upon completion of Diploma studies, students have the option to articulate into the Bachelor of Early Childhood from the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), Australia. Degree holders may enrol as offshore candidates of the USQ Master of Education programme. USQ is globally recognised as a provider of specialised early childhood programmes.

The Master of Education is globally recognised as a provider of specialised early childhood programmes. Graduates of this programme can choose from up to 4 majors and complete the programme in only 16 months.

The Bachelor of Early Childhood is a 3+0 full-time programme designed to prepare students to work in early childhood care and educational settings. It gives students the skills to create effective teaching programs and learning environments for young children.

The University of Southern Queensland is a leader in flexible learning, has a significant profile in regionally relevant research and is closely engaged with its communities. USQ is also an award-winning university with over 7,500 international students. In fact, the Australian Early Childhood industry has been known for its long tradition of care and education for young children since the 19th century.

There will be an Early Childhood Education & Psychology Info Week from 8 to 14 March. Those who are interested in education programmes offered at SEGi College Subang Jaya may drop by at the campus. Academicians and trained counsellors will be present to give detailed information on the courses available. There will also be exhibitions and relevant talks.

For more information, call SEGi College Subang Jaya (03-86001888 or 1800-888-622), SEGi College Sarawak (082-252566) and SEGi College Penang (04-2633888), email to askme@segi.edu.my or log on to www.segi.edu.my.