WHY CHOOSE A CAREER PATHWAY IN EARLY CARE & CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (ECCE)
Joining the ECCE industry is often misunderstood by many, especially parents, as a low-income job that requires minimal education and skills, a job that does not promise a bright future, a job that does not earn their children the label, ‘professional’ and a job that does not bring lucrative income. It is not uncommon for many to perceive joining ECCE as only to become a teacher. However, this is no longer the trend in ECCE. The opportunities in ECCE are vast. For those who wish to teach children, they are the noble teachers; for those who are born business-minded, they are the proud owners of childcare centres and kindergartens; and for those who are scholarly-minded, they are the professional consultants and lecturers. Despite the differences in career objectives, these individuals who dare to venture into the ECCE industry all have a common goal, to transform lives of children and to make this world a better place.
Small can be beautiful, too
(New Sunday Times, July 20th 2008 – Learning Curve)
Though there are proposals to merge small private colleges, big institutions do not always equal quality education.
There appears to be much concern about what to do with the 500-odd Private Higher Educational Institutions (PHEI) in Malaysia.
There are proposals to reduce the number through mergers and acquisitions. Presumably the rationale is that many of the PHEI are small and offer poor quality education. By implication, the assumption is that one has to be big to offer good education.
But is this true? Do big colleges offer better education? It is my contention that not enough thought has gone into this issue.
Three Dragons of ALFA
Preparing for upcoming festivities for the Chinese Year of the Dragon, students teams worked together to construct three large dragons from recycled and renewable materials. Under the direction of long-time graphics design lecturer, Mr Koh Sim Hoo who conceived the idea of creating three dragons to properly honor this year’s Chinese New Year theme.
Over the years, Mr Koh has advocated the role of designers in promoting environmental awareness, and this year was no different. Students were given the additional requirement to only use recyclable materials in their construction. Students proposed initial concepts before collecting cardboard boxes, aluminum cans, and egg cartons to build their projects with.
The project was part of their extracurricular activity so students gathered to construct their design only after regularly scheduled classes. Once completed, three ALFA Dragons emerged from deep within the studio lairs then slithered and danced their way through the College halls in a raucous ceremony. All three dragons and their student designers were photographed by the local Chinese newspaper, Sin Chew Daily.
The three Dragons of ALFA will take part in the school’s Chinese New Year Celebration in February.
Welcome to the ALFA Experience
We’re glad you made it to the ALFA International College blog site!
We extend a hearty welcome to our friends both local and overseas who are considering a college education here in Malaysia and its capital city of Kuala Lumpur. It is an exciting time to be living and studying in the heart of Southeast Asia where the forces of business, trade, international relations, science and technology, design and architecture, culture and religion, art and entertainment are actively shaping the world of the 21st Century.
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What next after SPM?
It is the one question that many a school-leaver in Malaysia has to face upon completing secondary school. “What do I do next?” Granted, many would have already charted their tertiary education path long before they finish Form Five. Or have it charted out FOR them. But for many others, it is a question to which they truly have no conviction in answering. And can one be blamed for not knowing for sure what they plan to do for the rest of their lives…at the raw age of 17, 18?
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