THE STAR, TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2020
BRIGHT KIDS
Raising children to be future-ready
“WILL my child be ready?” – is a
question you hear often from
parents and teachers, especially
considering today’s global
environment and the future it
implies. It is a completely normal
concern regarding our children’s
readiness as the world advances
rapidly in technology and
connectivity.
Demand for them to be future
experts in healthcare, technology,
education and more continue to
increase equally as fast. Are we,
as educators and parents,
effectively investing for children’s
growth in the right places to
ensure that they are prepared,
groomed and, when the time
comes, ready?
Is my child ready for the
future?
What does “ready” really
mean? Should my child study to
be a specialist? Or will a broad,
overarching education be more
advantageous? Taylor’s
International School (TIS) believes
that competency is only one piece
of the puzzle that helps prepare
children for the future. Giving
them the ability to renew
knowledge and learn practical
applications of that knowledge is
the real key to success in the
foreseeable future.
TIS Puchong principal Stefano
Piumatti adds that important
Healthy gut for stronger kids
AS parents, we hope that our
children are free from disease and
infections. However, in real life,
it is nearly impossible as our
children are constantly exposed to
many threats to their health and
well-being. Children are more
prone to infections and diseases
compared to adults because their
immune systems are not yet fully
developed.
Since the end of last year,
Malaysia has been hit by influenza
A (H1N1) which affects mostly
school-going children. Recently, the
outbreak of Covid-19 posted a
greater threat to the children. To
protect your child against viruses,
you should make sure your child
takes preventive measures, such
as:
l Practise good personal hygiene
by washing their hands regularly
l Cover their mouths and noses
when they cough or sneeze
l Avoid close contact with
people who are sick
l Wear a mask in crowded areas
More importantly, protect your
child from within by boosting your
child’s immunity.
Did you know that 80% of our
immune cells are located in our
gut? A healthy gut has been linked
to a stronger immune system.
Balanced gut microbiota is the key
to maintaining a healthy gut.
The gut microbiota helps regulate
immune cell response by
qualities such as self-belief, good
character and independence are
necessary ingredients in building
up a child. This means developing
confident and competent problem-
solvers who are able to gather and
adapt to new knowledge streams,
learners who are critical of the
information presented to them yet
have the necessary soft skills to
take on the rigours of a global
workplace. These, TIS believes, are
qualities that make a child future-
ready.
Methods and approaches
As an international school, TIS is
the perfect place for students to
gain exposure at a global level,
allowing them to learn from
cultures and industries across the
world. At the same time, its well-
known adoption of Quantum
Learning allows students to
experience impactful and effective
learning.
The environment at TIS is
conducive to learning, and its
excellent school facilities ensures
students are getting the most from
every lesson. On top of academics,
its co-curricular activities create
opportunities for the development
of people skills, leadership qualities
and positive character traits to
produce functional and proficient
global citizens who are ready for
the challenges ahead of them.
TIS Kuala Lumpur principal
Peter Wells says, “As well as giving
A healthy gut has been
linked to a stronger
immune system.
Balanced gut
microbiota is the
key to maintaining
a healthy gut. The
gut microbiota helps
regulate the immune
cells response by
communicating with
immune cells in the
gut and training the
body to respond
to pathogens and
infections.
communicating with immune cells
in the gut and training the body to
respond to pathogens and
infections.
The relationship between
probiotics and immunity
Probiotics are the friendly
bacteria that help promote the
Raise your kids to be ready, prepared and adaptable for what is ahead.
all students a sound academic school days.” what lies ahead.
foundation, we promote the four TIS’ methods in character
Cs to ‘raise them ready’ for their building and instilling knowledge n TIS is having a Discovery Month
future lives – critical thinking, is time-tested and proven to bring in March. For more information,
communication, collaboration and out the best in its students, creating call 03-9200-9898 (TIS Kuala
creativity. All four components are future global leaders who are Lumpur) or 03-5879-5000 (TIS
essential for success beyond their ready, prepared and can adapt to Puchong) or visit www.tis.edu.my
growth of good bacteria and
restore the balance of gut
microbiota, maintain a healthy
digestive system and strengthen
the immune system. Probiotics
work by:
l Inhibiting the growth of
pathogenic bacteria through the
expression of antimicrobial
substances
l Reducing infections by
forming a protective barrier that
prevents germs such as harmful
bacteria and viruses from
penetrating our bodies
l Modulating the immune
system through interacting with
different immune system Probiotics are the friendly bacteria that help promote the growth of good
components such as the production bacteria and restore the balance of gut microbiota, maintain a healthy
of antibodies in response to digestive system and strengthen the immune system.
infection
Microbiology proved that Furthermore, Lactobacillus
As more probiotic products are Bifidobacterium lactis, BB-12, paracasei, L. casei 431, has been
available in the market today, it is increased the production of shown to reduce the incidence of
crucial for parents to look for the antibodies by 2.8 times after eight diarrhoea and support healthy
right probiotic product for their days of consumption. Another study weight gain among the children,
children. One important criterion in the British Journal of Nutrition according to a study in
to look out for is clinically proven said that it reduced the occurrence Microbiologie-Ailments-Nutrition.
probiotic strains to ensure product of respiratory infections by 29% Start taking care of your child’s
safety and efficacy. among the children. gut health today!
Bifidobacterium lactis, BB-12, Supplementation with
Streptococcus thermophilus, TH-4 Bifidobacterium lactis, BB-12, and This article is brought to you by
and Lactobacillus paracasei, L. Streptococcus thermophilus, TH-4, Biogrow.
casei 431 are some of the clinically has also been proven to reduce
proven probiotic strains that have
been tested for their health
colic or irritability problems
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n For more information, call
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benefits and substantiated with of Clinical Nutrition, and in the 9am to 5pm), email info@biogrow.
clinical studies in young children. Journal of the Medical Association of com.my or like the official
A clinical study in the Thailand, is said to induce better Facebook page at www.facebook.
International Journal of Food growth among the children. com/BiogrowKIDS
2 Bright Kids
More than just grades
GRADES are a tried-and-tested method of
evaluating a student’s ability and
performance. Through this, schools can
tailor their learning processes to best meet
students’ needs and maximise their potential
to score well in school or IGCSE exams.
Grades are an essential criterion for entry to
reputed local and international universities.
From a professional standpoint, grades are
important, especially at the start of a
person’s career. From an employer’s
perspective, higher grades equal greater
potential for superior job performance.
One’s first job interview is also largely based
on academic performance reflected in one’s
grades. This would then imply that our
preoccupation with grades is justified. The
sad reality, as substantiated by a University
of Michigan study, is that 80% of students
base their self-worth on their grades.
Society, too, equates our children’s
intelligence with grades, and as parents, we
feel the pressure to boast about our
children’s successes to others. If my
neighbour’s niece scored all A*s in her
IGCSEs, it translates to her being more
intelligent than my daughter, who scored a
modest combination of As and Bs. The same
neighbour’s niece, being an “overachiever”,
would “get ahead” in life, get a “good job”
and become a “big boss” with a five-figure
salary. Why are these trite phrases
embedded in a parent’s psyche? Repeating
them to our children makes them feel that
their only purpose in life is to score because,
if they fail, everyone else will leapfrog them
to greater success and happiness.
Despite opening doors for admission to the
best universities, grades are not the only
thing a university looks at when granting
admission. Given that most colleges have an
outstanding pool of applicants to choose
from, chosen applicants usually show that
they contribute far more to the character
While academic achievements do help to open doors, it is not a true reflection of an individual’s
potential.
and profile of the university than just stellar
grades.
More than just academics
Good schools look to develop more than
just academic ability. We want our students
to not only be high achievers in IGCSE
exams, but also to be good, caring and
thoughtful people. Through The Duke of
Edinburgh’s Award and Junior Award
Scheme for Schools programmes, we
encourage students to be well read, engaging
conversationalists who will become
contributing members of their community
and society.
Teachers will tell you that their fondest
memories of students are not of those who
have aced their exams, but of students who
had enquiring minds, engaged them in
thought-provoking conversations, and were
courteous and compassionate as well as
whose humour kept lessons entertaining and
their peers smiling. These are the students
who leave long-lasting impressions.
I, personally, know peers who were
ordinary in terms of academic achievements
but have gone on to occupy top positions in
well-established companies across the world.
Was it just their grades that got them there?
Employees who conduct successful audit
checks, file corporate tax returns or
THE STAR, TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2020
From a professional
standpoint, grades are
important, especially at
the start of a person’s
career. From an employer’s
perspective, higher grades
equal greater potential
for superior job performance.
One’s first job interview
is also largely based on
academic performance
reflected in one’s grades.
accurately predict future economic trends
are valuable, but there are many of those
around. However, employees who can do all
the aforementioned in addition to handling
the stress of deadlines, deliver convincing
sales pitches and have high EQ along with
working amicably and professionally with
others are the real scene stealers.
The inescapable reality is that while good
grades will certainly help facilitate a
relatively seamless journey through life, we
are doing a great disservice if the only lesson
we teach our children is that without top
grades, they have not lived up to their full
potential.
As a teacher, I have a job that gives me
satisfaction, makes me happy and enriches
me every single day – all without 10 A*s and
a 4.0 CGPA! – By Tabinda Shoaib, head
of Languages and Literature, elc
international School Cyberjaya Campus
THE STAR, TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2020
According to the United Nations, 20.7% of Malaysian children under five suffer from
stunting.
The fault
in our food
GROWING up here, you would never think
that we need to worry about not having
enough food. Malaysia, known globally as a
food heaven, is replete with 24-hour eateries,
roadside stalls and restaurants, all serving
different types of cuisine. Nevertheless, the
blunt truth behind this beautiful picture is
that our children are facing a nutritional
crisis.
Many believe that malnutrition is related
to an insufficient amount of meals. However,
that is not the case. According to the World
Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition
refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances
Bright Kids 3
in a person’s intake of energy and nutrients.
The term malnutrition also covers two broad
groups of conditions.
One is undernutrition, which includes
stunting (low height for their age), wasting
(low weight for their height), underweight
(low weight for their age) and micronutrient
deficiencies or insufficiencies (a lack of
important vitamins and minerals). The other
is overweight, obesity and diet-related non-
communicable diseases (such as heart
disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer).
> TURN TO PAGE 4
4 Bright Kids
Providing tools
for self-learning
INSTEAD of trying to provide
children with the knowledge they
need, the role of education is to
equip them with the tools and skills
to acquire that knowledge
themselves. However, for self-
learning to be effective, we must
inculcate a desire, purpose and
reason for children to learn beyond
what is in the classroom.
Kumon places great value in the
ability to study independently and
encourages students to discover
how to solve problems for
themselves without asking for the
answer.
The benefits of self-
learning include:
l Developing strong problem-
solving skills
Self-learning gives children the
ability to identify problems and
quickly look for effective solutions
on their own. They can also easily
adapt to changes in their
environment because of their ability
to learn fast.
l Gaining other skills
While learning, children also
learn other important skills, such as
time management, self-assessment
and setting their own goals. These
are important skills that can be
applied anywhere.
l The learning experience
becomes more meaningful
Self-learning comes from a
personal desire to gain new
knowledge and is driven by the
need to find more information
about a topic and use the
information for a particular
purpose. Therefore, your children
will have a clear purpose of why
they are learning and the
information gained is often
relevant, making it meaningful.
l Curiousity-led learning
Learning occurs naturally when
there is curiosity. This means that
children will be motivated to learn
and acquire knowledge when the
drive comes from within rather
than from outside sources.
l Boosting self-esteem
As children do more self-learning,
many become more confident
learners. They are able to see
themselves as independent people
who are able to learn new things
without anyone helping them.
This can be a major motivation
boost for children.
l Learning at their own pace
Self-learning allows children to
focus on areas they are most
interested in or want to understand
better. This helps reduce the
feelings of frustration, anxiety or
boredom that students may struggle
with in a classroom setting.
Let your child embark on her
own self-learning journey by joining
Kumon’s free trial classes now. To
participate, register your children
in either the Kumon Mathematics or
English programme before March
16.
n For more information, call
1800 881 010 or visit www.
kumonmalaysia.com
Too many kids live
in ‘food deserts’
> FROM PAGE 3
According to The State of Food
Security and Nutrition in the
World 2019 report by the Food
and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations, 20.7% of
Malaysian children below five
suffer from stunting. This
percentage is higher than in
Ghana, which came in at 18.8%,
Sri Lanka (17.3%) and Thailand
(10.5%).
Other than stunting, Unicef’s
State of the World’s Children 2019
report states that 11.5% of
Malaysian children suffer from
wasting, while 12.7% of children
aged between five and 19 are
obese. This reality is more
complex in poor urban areas,
where malnutrition rates tend to
be higher than the national
average.
Crops for the Future Research
Centre chief executive officer Prof
Sayed Azam-Ali, in an article for a
financial website, says, “These are
statistics that we should not be
seeing. We had fewer stunting
cases 30 years ago than we do
now. We have a situation where
the poorest segments in Malaysia
are malnourished because they
can’t afford vegetables and fruits
and we don’t give any incentives
for our farmers to grow
nutritious food.
“That affects brain
development and stunting. Our
rate is almost the same as Sub-
Saharan Africa. Do we have a
food security crisis in Malaysia?
Probably not. Do we have a
nutritional crisis? Absolutely.”
Access to healthy food
Families living in urban areas
face major challenges in finding
healthy food. Many live in “food
deserts” – mostly urban
neighbourhoods where residents
have little or no access to healthy
food options. In these
communities, people buy food
from fast-food outlets, roadside
stalls, convenience stores and
vending machines. The
abundance of high-calorie, low-
nutrient and processed foods in
these areas has also led to the
more descriptive term, “food
swamp”.
These types of foods are even
abundant in school canteens.
Fried noodles, fried chicken, and
fried rice have become staples for
Malaysian children. Children
with little to no nutritional
education are easily convinced to
buy these foods.
The abundance of cheap, fast but highly unhealthy food has taken its
toll on Malaysian children.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2020
Eating healthy is
expensive
While Malaysia has
succeeded in reducing its
incidence of poverty from 5.5%
of the population in 2000 to
0.4% in 2018, many people are
still trapped in the vicious cycle
of poverty versus nutrition.
The affordability of healthy
food is a common problem.
Even if families have access to
nutritious food and understand
the importance of eating
nutritious food, high costs
mean that the nutritious food
available to feed their children
is limited by their bank
balances.
Processed food, which is
high in sugar and fat, and is
often fried, is very cheap. It is
also convenient, as these foods
are often sold near areas with
many working people with
young families. A quick and
cheap dinner for the kids, just
a short drive away. But at what
cost?
What are our next
steps?
In early January, the
Education Ministry introduced
the “Free Breakfast
Programme” for students from
B40 families. Aside from the
free breakfast, the programme
aims to create awareness
among the students on what
they are eating and its
nutritional value. While it may
still be too early to see the
programme’s effects, many
parents on social media have
expressed their appreciation of
the Government’s efforts.
The Government can also
push for more incentives to
grow more nutritious crops.
For example, the Agriculture
Ministry can incentivise
farmers to grow nutritious
crops, which can then be used
in the Education Ministry’s free
breakfast programme.
However, to tackle the issue
in its entirety means to look at
the entire picture and include
issues such as socio-economics,
the layout of our cities and
even stepping up efforts to
educate the public and
incentivise Malaysians to
prioritise their health.
While it may take a long
time, acknowledging that it is
an issue the country must face
is the first step in solving it.