THE SIGNING CEREMONY TO SUPPORT EARLY YEARS EDUCATION & PARENTING

SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG, YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW

FOR THE SIGNING CEREMONY TO SUPPORT

EARLY YEARS EDUCATION & PARENTING

20 MAY 2023
UOW, BATU KAWAN

YB Puan Chong Eng

EXCO for Social Development and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs

YBhg. Dato’ Ir. Rajendran a/l Anthony

Mayor of Penang Island City Council

YBhg. Dato’ Azhar bin Arshad

Mayor of Seberang Perai City Council

YBrs. Puan Ong Bee Leng

Chief Executive Officer of PWDC

Mr. Jery Yeoh

Founder of Whytehouse Education Group

Members of the media

Ladies and gentlemen

Firstly, on behalf of the state, I would like to thank all of you for spending your time to attend the 100 Pledge on Parenting today. This event is proof of the state government's commitment in building a brighter future for our future generation. In a way, it is also one of the main stepping stones for Penang in advancing towards becoming “A Family Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation”.

   

Parenting, which is the noble and selfless act of raising and nurturing children, is not only a personal responsibility but also a critical factor that has a direct impact on the well-being of our state. It is a duty that extends far beyond the confines of individual homes, reaching into the very fabric of our communities and shaping the future of our nation.

It serves as the cornerstone of a strong and prosperous state by fostering the development of well-rounded individuals. The early years of a child's life are vital for their cognitive, emotional, and social growth.

It is during this time, that parents have the greatest influence on their children's values, beliefs, and character formation. By providing a nurturing and stable environment, parents lay the foundation for future generations, hence instilling in them the moral compass and skills necessary for active and responsible citizenship.

Ladies & gentlemen,

Children are not raised by their parents alone but in an ecosystem that also includes caregivers, teachers and even the government as each has a hand in moulding the experiences that children accumulate at home, in daycare centres, at school and in society at large. Improving those experiences will shape their lives and the face of the societies they live in for years to come.

Clearly, the well-being of our children matters for both ethical and economic reasons, and public policy has a vital role to play in developing happy, healthy and well-educated children who grow into socially and economically productive adults.

As such, the Penang state government also places much emphasis on STEM education for our younger generation in order for the state to remain competitive and attractive to investors with the necessary talent pool. This is evident from our free coding classes for 120,000 primary and secondary students at a cost of RM6 million, the expansion of our four Digital libraries as well as the promotion of Tech Dome’s robotics programme. These were deliberately done to enable our young to gain early exposure to the wonders of STEM and hopefully, as a career path.

An all-rounded education too is not neglected by us because we believe the physical well-being of our young is equally important. We have our open and pocket parks, upgraded basketball courts and other sports facilities to cater to the physical, mental as well as emotional growth of our children. These comprehensive safeguards are in place to ensure our children grow up to be healthy, sane and useful citizens to play meaningful roles in the future of Penang.

Ladies & gentlemen,

As your chief minister, I assure you that the state government through the MMK for Social Development will continuously push for an ecosystem in Penang where no child or parent will be left behind. The pledge project aims to bring together corporate citizens, government organizations, and NGOs to provide insights into good practices for parents, teachers, and caregivers of early years development and care.

By signing the pledge, participants will demonstrate their commitment to social responsibility and contribute to a noble cause that supports young children and their families. I am proud to see the vast number of organizations that have committed to pledge today.

I would also like to thank Whytehouse education group for organising today's event and for providing a platform for not only parents but other caregivers in equipping them with tools and know-how on early childhood education.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I believe with today's pledge, everyone here will be committed in spreading the message and raising awareness to create a stronger families with a brighter future for our future generation.

Thank you.