KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 (Bernama) — Children categorised as Smart and Talented (PB) need an appropriate education and environment, but there are still many, including parents and educators, who do not understand the characteristics of such gifted children.
Director of the Genius@Pintar Negara Centre (PGPN) of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Dr Rorlinda Yusof said these PB children cannot be equated with bright students in mainstream schools.
In fact, according to her statement today, in the period (a decade ago) around the establishment of PGPN UKM, there was a total of 25 alumni who successfully pursued their studies to PhD level from the early age of 19.
Rorlinda said the human capital among PB children who successfully develop their potential to the maximum can manifest their talent to eventually peak as the nation’s leaders in various fields to place the national economy on par with other developed countries.
“Realising that every child is a national asset that needs to be looked after and nurtured according to different levels of ability, not to mention gifted children who have their own package of personal characteristics and diversity of potential and psychological issues that shape their own uniqueness.
“Each of them, regardless of age and background, has the potential to become a leader of high resilience, a leader in the knowledge of a new field, a catalyst for change, or a translator of new thinking,” she said.
PGPN UKM is a Centre of Responsibility under UKM with a programme mandated by the Cabinet to develop, implement, and monitor the education programme for PB students that was launched on April 3, 2009.
Yesterday, the centre held an Awareness Forum on gifted children with the theme ‘Awareness On Gifted and Talented Children: Is Your Child Gifted?’ It was held to build community awareness and understanding about gifted children.
Rorlinda said the forum discussed various aspects and questions related to the characteristics of Smart and Gifted (PB), issues of PB, challenges faced by parents, system needs and educational environment suitable to groom intelligent children.
According to her, the forum was attended by about 450 students, parents and guardians as well as outsiders involving a panel from various backgrounds, including experts in the field of Smart and Talented, Dr Inderbir Kaur Sandhu, deputy president of the National Association for Gifted and Talented Children, Aileen Then and the association of parents of intelligent students.
“A clear understanding of PB students can contribute to the correct psychological and learning support from various agencies including government and non-government agencies on their educational needs, especially in the aspect of sponsorship for studies, which contributes to the continuation of learning to a higher level,” she said.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency