Director of School at the Ministry of Education (MoE), Hajah Marina Chek binti Bujang, underscored the critical importance of addressing bullying in early childhood education during the opening ceremony of the Regional Capacity Development Programme titled ‘Holistic Integrated Early Childhood Care Education: Our Happy Neighbourhood’ held at the Senate Room of Chancellor Hall, Universiti Brunei Darussalam on Monday.
In her keynote address, Hajah Marina highlighted the programme’s role in enhancing participants’ understanding of early childhood care education within the framework of children’s rights. She emphasised that the initiative aims to raise awareness about the social challenges faced by children, with a particular focus on bullying, and the necessity for collective action to tackle these issues.
“The programme will provide insights into comprehensive and integrated Early Childhood Care Education (ECCE) practices that are being implemented in neighbouring countries. It aims to raise awareness about social challenges faced by children, particularly bullying, and emphasize the need for collective action to address these issues,” she stated.
Hajah Marina affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to creating a safe and nurturing educational environment, free from bullying and harassment. She highlighted the importance of inclusive educational practices that prioritise children’s health and well-being. “Addressing the issue of bullying among young children is paramount. We are committed to implementing inclusive educational practices that create a safe and nurturing environment, free from bullying and harassment,” she said.
The Director also mentioned that the programme serves as a medium to explore strategies for fostering partnerships between schools and parents, encouraging active involvement from all stakeholders. This collaboration aims to build harmonious relationships between the community and the school, ensuring the provision of high-quality early childhood care education.
She noted that the modules highlighted in the programme are designed to enhance knowledge and skills in creating a conducive, friendly, and safe learning environment for early childhood education. “The theme, Our Happy Neighbourhood, aims to promote a holistic and integrative approach in guiding children while recognizing their rights as a shared societal responsibility,” she added.
Hajah Marina expressed hope that the programme will positively impact the lives of children and the community by improving the quality of early childhood education through innovative and project-based approaches. Additionally, the programme seeks to equip preschool teachers with knowledge, models, and best practices that can be applied in various situations.
The programme, running from June 10 to 13 brought together 86 participants including cluster heads and government preschool teachers under the ministry. – Rokiah Mahmud
