Young students at the Pride International Education Centre in Yangon perform during the school's final 2006 - 2007 assembly. Pic: Hein Latt Aung

PRESCHOOLS will become more popular in coming years as eager parents attempt to give their children the best possible start to their educations, industry experts said in Yangon last week.

The popularity of preschools started to in the mid 1990s and the number of children attending them has continued to increase ever since.

“The future prospects of preschools in Myanmar look good,” said Daw Hla Yin Win, managing director of the Pride International Education Centre (PIEC) preschool, in Kamaryut township. The PIEC preschool opened in 2001 and teaches children between the ages of three and six.

PIEC teaches children under early childhood development (ECD) guidelines and incorporates English and Chinese languages into their curriculum.
Daw Hla Yin Win used the analogy of a house’s foundation to point out the importance of a preschool education.

“You can’t build a strong house without a solid foundation because it provides support for the rest of the building,” she said.

In Daw Hla Yin Win’s opinion, preschools need well-trained staff members, an international syllabus and the most important ingredients – love, care and understanding of the children – to be successful.

“More and more parents are beginning to realise that planning a child’s early education is a wise investment. We believe that the child’s first six years are a very important step for their future development and maturity. All children benefit from preschool foundation teaching,” said Ms Winnie Khine, principal of Streamline Training-Learning Centre (STLC) in Mayangone township.

She said the school provides a program of holistic education based around the development of a child’s learning faculties, physical wellbeing, social skills and sense of aesthetics.

“We will make sure that each child is safe, secure and comfortable throughout the school day and we believe that a child’s first five to six years are crucial for their future development,” Ms Khine said.

Another preschool, Do-Re-Mi in Mayangone township, opened with the guarantee that parents can send their children to the school confident of the education they will receive. Director and principal, Ms Yumi Hasegawa, says Do-Re-Mi offers a special music and movement program and for preschoolers.

“I want to recommend that every preschool offer music time for their students. We are holding an annual music workshop and inviting all preschool and kindergarten teachers who want to learn a musical approach to teaching children,” she said.

Ms Hasegawa said music and movement, art and craft, physical exercise (swimming, fitness and yoga) and story telling were important subjects for her young charges.

Do-Re-Mi opened for Japanese residents in Yangon from 1999 to 2002 and then in 2003 began to offer classes to the public.

Daw Aye Hnin Swe, managing director of International Education Centre of Myanmar (IECM) in Bahan township, said children are like sponges because they absorb new information so quickly and are always keen to learn.

“We like to help children to learn new things, improve their social skills, build confidence, increase their curiosity and prepare for later schooling,” she said.

Daw Aye Hnin Swe said IECM’s students are taught music, art, physical education and computer skills. Moreover, children from three-years-old are taught to develop their Myanmar language skills and learn about the culture and geography of Myanmar.

She said that because many families work long hours it is beneficial for children to attend preschool and begin their educations with professional teachers. Better yet, it is also fun for the children because they have others to play with.