Curriculum PERMATA Negara aims to provide early education care programs for children aged 0-4 years. Curriculum PERMATA Negara provides an opportunity for children to experience a high-quality early education which in turn will produce excellent human capital. Curriculum PERMATA Negara emphasizes 6 important domain in ensuring the holistic development of children; it includes the development of 1) the personality, socio-emotional and spiritual; 2) language, communication and early literacy; 3) early mathematics and logical thinking; 4) senses and understanding the environment; 5) physical; and 6) creativity and aesthetics (Malaysia 2006).

This study aims to assess the holistic development of children who had attended training at the PERMATA Negara Centre (PAPN). The study was conducted in seven states in Peninsular Malaysia, representing 5 zones (north, south, east, west and center). The states involved are Perlis, Penang, Kelantan, Perak, Johor, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan. The study population consisted of two groups, PAPNs alumni graduated in 2007-2012 as well as their parents. Children's development is measured through six developmental domains contained in curriculum PERMATA by using two sets of questionnaires, for the PAPN graduates and their parents respectively. A total of 83 PAPN graduates and 83 parents were involved in the study.

Findings show that both parents and children report the child’s overall development at high and moderate level. By observing the 6 domains of learning, this research found that majority of the parents conclude that children have a high level of the development of domain personality, socio-emotional and spiritual and domain early mathematics and logical thinking. The finding is consistent with the children’s perspective on their development. In terms of the development of creativity and aesthetics, most of the parents felt that the development of their children's creativity is at a medium level. According to the parents, the most important components of development that should be on every child are spirituality, communication, personality, logical thinking and socio-emotional development.

Date of Input: 13/02/2019 | Updated: 13/02/2019 | rozlita