School Readiness Among Preschool Children

Abstract

Abstract With Vision 2020 only 10 years away, Malaysia is far from reaching her goals as there are still school students who face problems mastering redaing writing and arithmetic skills (3R's). This of course will hinder the production of highly skilled and educated human modals that are greatly needed for the nation's progress. Associations are often made between children's level of school readiness and their school achievement. Children with higher level of school readiness experience a smoother transition into Year 1 of the elementary school.This study examines children's level of school readiness based on their backgrounds. Using stratified random technique the sample consisted of 377 children attending government preschools, government agencies preschools and private preschools in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Parents completed forms reporting background demographics and kindergarten teachers reported on children's level of school readiness using a multidimensional assessment School Readiness (Year One). Descriptive statistics showed children scored the highest in moral readiness and lowest in socioemotional readiness. Overall, the children showed a medium level of readiness to enter Year 1. Findings from this study suggest that children's socioemotional development might have been overlooked by parents. The study also suggests that disadvantaged parents need support to become knowledge able and to practice more positive parenting, carry out stimulating activities with their children, and have the means to create a better home learning environment to enhance their children's development.