25 June 2009

We all know about Teachers’ Day, and most of the time it is celebrated for teachers in primary and secondary schools. What about teachers in kindergartens and childcare centres then?

Well, SEGi College Subang Jaya decided to pay a special tribute to them by organising an Appreciation Day for Early Childhood Educators. SEGi started this tribute in 2006 and on 25 July this year, it will be the fourth Appreciation Day that SEGi’s Faculty of Education, Health and Social Sciences (FOEHSS) is hosting.

The event recognises and pays tribute to early childhood professionals who strive to provide quality care and education for young children nationwide. It is SEGi’s effort to recognise the importance of the service that they render in developing human capital, starting when it matters most, with pre-schoolers.

The celebration this year is on a grander scale. SEGi is inviting early childhood professionals to attend complimentary early childhood

classes at SEGi College Subang Jaya from 1 July to 24 July 2009.

Registration for the free classes is on a first-come first-served basis. The maximum number of participants will be determined by classroom capacity. YB Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun will be present on the last day, which is 25 July, to close the event.

The celebration culminates on that day, with the classes focusing on the topic ‘Supporting Children's Learning Through Creative Ways’. It will be presented in the plenary session by Ms Puspa Sivan who is an international expert in early childhood education.

Ms Puspa Sivan, Founder and Director of Parent-Teacher-Child Learning School International, has 30 years of experience in early childhood training, administration and working with parents, infants, preschoolers and children with special needs in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the region.

There will be 3 concurrent sessions that will provide participants with concrete ways in which children’s learning can be supported through creative ways using available resources such as water and sand, through music and movement, and even in collaboration with parents.

One of the sessions on Music and Movement will be facilitated by Mr Victor Tan who has over 30 years of involvement in music education and development of children. He has been active in parental workshops, teacher training programmes and music camps for children of different ages. He has also been involved in the curriculum planning of music in our primary and secondary schools.

There will also be an exciting treasure hunt that will see participants going out in search of the GIFTS of early childhood. Private companies which are keen to show their appreciation for early childhood professionals may sponsor goodie bags and gifts for the event.

SEGi Group of Institutions offers a range of courses in education including the Diploma in Early Childhood Education (DECE), International Diploma in Montessori Pedagogy, Diploma in Psychology, Bachelor of Early Childhood, Bachelor of Psychology and other short courses.

The diploma programmes are recognised by MOHE (Ministry of Higher Education). Upon completion of the Diploma, students have the option to articulate into the Bachelor of Early Childhood Degree from the University of Southern Queensland, Australia.

The Master of Education is also available at SEGi, offered in collaboration with the University of Southern Queensland, Australia. Graduates can choose from up to 4 majors and complete the programme in 16 months.

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