Malaysian entrepreneur and influencer Syafiqah Aina recently shared why she decided to enrol her daughter in a Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC), or Chinese vernacular school.
In an Instagram post, Syafiqah stated that the decision was made after careful consideration of the benefits, particularly regarding career opportunities, discipline, and academic development.
“In terms of discipline, I think Chinese schools are stricter, which can educate the young students to be independent,” she noted.
Learning an extra language helps with job opportunities
The decision was also influenced by family history; both her mother and her child’s cousin attended SJKC. This familial connection has made it easier for her to seek guidance on how to prepare her daughter for the curriculum.
Syafiqah further explained that childhood is the optimal phase for learning due to rapid brain development, allowing children to absorb knowledge more quickly than adults.
“This is the beginning of providing an opportunity to learn more than one language, which will build a strong foundation that will provide a great advantage in the future.”
“If you have Mandarin-speaking skills, you have a higher chance of securing job opportunities.”
Syafiqah also stressed that she never planned to send her children to private or international schools. She expressed a desire for them to experience government-run education, similar to the schooling she and her husband received.
Despite her child attending SJKC, Syafiqah insists that Bahasa Melayu remains the primary language spoken at home, while also noting that her daughter’s English proficiency has improved over time.
Also read: M’sian Chinese Actor Reveals Why He Sends His Son to Sekolah Kebangsaan Instead of SJKC
