21 hours Ago By Philip Wong
Visitors trying out the arts at a booth during MPI Open Day.SIBU (April 3): The Early Childhood Education (ECE) programme at Methodist Pilley Institute (MPI) will ensure that its students not only get the best learning experience but also a thriving working experience after graduation.Lecturer Chew Siok Cheng said there are several support systems being put in place to ensure the students can thrive.
“We make sure that everything that we put in place is student-centred.“We have two programmes, namely Diploma in ECE and Bachelor of ECE (Hons), and we do not have a final examination like other programmes; all are course work-based and continual assessments throughout the programme.“Our students will acquire hands-on experience of working with the children as part of their professional development.
We call it field experience,” she added.Chew pointed out that in a long semester, students must undergo 40 hours of field experience and 20 hours during a short semester.Such hands-on experience, she said, is more important as ECE students are working with children and not computers.
“Based on the assessment, the teachers found that students could do better and understand their lessons more.“We also have many kindergartens and preschools supporting these students, which allow the principals to observe them. Once they graduate, the students may receive an offer to continue serving in the schools,” she added.
According to Chew, ECE Programme also incorporates blended learning to ensure students who need to be outstation or those who cannot attend in-person classes would receive class notes and lectures.“Blended learning is an opportunity for those in the rural areas to learn to be ECE teachers.“I remember about 10 years ago, before we had this online mode, our Kapit students would take three hours to travel every Friday, just to attend classes at MPI.
“Every Friday morning, they would teach in the kindergarten and then get into the boat to Sibu to attend a night class on Friday, and two class sessions on Saturday.“They travelled like that every week, and I really salute them for it,” she said.Now, with the availability of online mode, they could provide classes both via Zoom and in-person classes.
While the effort is not easy, Chew believes this is important as part of the efforts in supporting the students to enrol for the programme.However, those who have just finished their Form 5 or Form 6 education are encouraged to attend the in-person classes at the campus.Furthermore, MPI also provides in-service, which involves teachers who are currently in the field but without any qualifications.
“Without at least a Diploma in ECE, these students who have been in the field for a long time would not be able to teach in kindergartens anymore, and the Education Ministry (MoE) would not renew their teaching permit.“In these cases, we suggest they enrol for our programme which usually takes place on Saturday night. It would help them to get the certifications,” Chew said, adding that their ECE programmes are recognised by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).
The Diploma in ECE is a two-and-a-half-year programme, while Bachelor of ECE (Hons) is a three-year programme.Full-time students who need financial aid to start their programme with MPI can tap into the national higher education fund (PTPTN).To know more about the ECE programme, visit the campus at the upcoming MPI Open Day on April 12, from 9am till 3pm.
There will be programme counselling for Early Childhood Education (ECE) Programme Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), ACCA Foundation in Accountancy (ACCA FIA), Accounting, Taxation, Marketing MUET 1, Social Work, Business Management, Computer Science, Finance and Investment, and Intensive English.As part of MPI’s commitment to delivering industry- and community-relevant programmes, two new programmes – Diploma in Nursing and Diploma in Special Education (Early Years) – are being developed and will be offered soon.There will also be an introduction of a new short course, namely Patisserie, for youths with keen interest in baking and pastry arts.
For enquiries, contact MPI on 084-322268, send a WhatsApp message to 011-55568806, or go to its website www.pilley.edu.
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