Rosmah Mansor, the wife of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, was glad that the early childhood programme Permata was included in the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP).

Rosmah who is also the patron of Permata said the incentive could be used to increase the participation of children from the rural areas and those from the lower income group in pre-schools.

"I am happy that the government has shown great interest in the development of the country's future assets, because if not they may go to other countries and that will be a lost to our country," she told reporters after the 10MP was tabled in Dewan Rakyat today.

The prime minister who tabled the 10MP said the Permata early childhood education programme was an important national agenda.

In the report, Najib said enrollment of children between the ages of four and five in pre-schools would be increased from 67 per cent in 2010 to 87 per cent in 2012.

The government was also considering to lower the entry age of formal schooling from 6 to 5 years during the 10MP plan period based on the capacity of the government while an incentive of RM10,000 would be provided to private pre-school providers for each new pre-school established.

Rosmah said a Permata Pintar school for gifted children would be set up and managed by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

"Children at the school will be under the care of mentors who are University professors, based on their respective abilities.

"It is a new development as fast learners will not have to waste time in normal schools," said Rosmah.

- Bernama

 

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