Holistic education for children

MICHELE Sagan has grand dreams of nurturing creativity among young children in Malaysia.

Children today need a more holistic education than what is currently available, she said adding that “they need to learn about emotional intelligence instead of just focusing on academics, which was why she was inspired to start the InsightKIDs programme.

Sagan was speaking at the official launching ceremony of the InsightKIDs learning centre in Medan Damansara in Kuala Lumpur.

The event was attended by Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong and Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan, as well as parents of children enrolled in InsightKIDs programmes.

Sagan (left) and Dr Wee together with InsightKIDs staff at the launch of the centre.

Dr Wee said that Malaysian students were being spoon-fed and lacked the skills to think critically.

“InsightKIDs should stand out as an example in the private sector for complementing the exisiting education system,” said Dr Wee.

The launch also saw the start of the centre’s effort to be listed in the Malaysian Book of Records for creating the largest mind-map.

The mind-map would be a joint effort by those who have been attending the courses and programmes provided by InsightKIDs.

“Mind-maps are very useful tools in enabling a child to think innovatively, and this is one way of taking a lesson beyond the classroom,” said Sagan who is also InsightKIDS director.

Sagan added that the mind-map created will be used to spark a charity drive for various orphanages and autistic centres around Petaling Jaya. — By PRIYA KULASAGARAN