Once there was a five-year-old boy with an extraordinary preference: he exclusively drank milk and declined to eat solid foods – no rice, no greens, no meat.
His mother was puzzled. “He doesn’t wish to,” she said, feeling helpless. Yet in Nurhayatul Nira Ramli’s classroom, a transformation began.
Through the preschool educator’s VeggieNest gardening initiative, the boy was inspired to tend to a plant. Slowly, this simple act of caring sparked an interest in vegetables. Before long, he started consuming them – not out of obligation, but out of desire.
“That’s the secret,” Nurhayatul, 44, told FMT Lifestyle. “When children engage in activities independently, they cultivate self-motivation. That’s what truly matters.” This conviction in the value of self-driven education is at the heart of all Nurhayatul’s endeavors. Recently celebrated at the Asia Education Awards 2024 in Bangkok as the Preschool Educator of the Year, this mother of five has dedicated 18 years to nurturing young minds at Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Child Development Laboratory.
This recognition has empowered her to champion the significance of early childhood education. “This accolade isn’t solely for me. It’s for all early childhood educators,” she remarked.
For Nurhayatul, based in Kajang, the award signifies a broader change: “It demonstrates that early childhood education in Malaysia is gaining international acknowledgment.”
Her classroom represents more than a space for mastering letters and numbers – it’s a haven for children who seek guidance and support.
“When I introduce them to new concepts, that’s my fulfillment,” she articulated. “I cherish witnessing the evolution of children, from start to finish. Even if they initially can’t read, that’s of little consequence.
What truly counts is that they look forward to coming to school and enjoying themselves.
