SIBU: Parents and educators must work together to equip young children with the values, skills and resilience needed to thrive in an increasingly artificial intelligence (AI)-driven world, says Bawang Assan assemblyman, Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh.
Addressing parents, teachers and pupils during the Engkilo Kindergarten’s Parents’ Day and Children’s Day celebration here on Friday (June 26), he said early childhood education remains one of the most important investments in shaping the nation’s future as the values and habits cultivated during the formative years would have a lasting impact on children’s lives.
“We are now living in an era of AI, digital technology and rapid innovation. The world our children will grow up in will be very different from the one we know today. Many of the jobs they will one day undertake may not even exist yet,” he added.
He stressed that while literacy and numeracy remain fundamental, children must also develop curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork to meet the demands of the future economy.
“These qualities will enable them to embrace future opportunities and overcome challenges with confidence,” he said.
Wong also underscored the irreplaceable role of parents as a child’s first teachers and lifelong role models, describing the family as the foundation upon which children’s character, values and moral principles are built.
Quoting the traditional Chinese saying that “filial piety is the foundation of all virtues”, he encouraged children to show gratitude not only on special occasions but through daily acts of respect, kindness and responsibility towards their parents.
He paid tribute to parents for their sacrifices in raising children, noting that parenting extends far beyond providing food, shelter and education.
“A loving family remains the strongest classroom in a child’s life,” he said.
To the children, Wong encouraged them to cherish every opportunity to learn, respect their parents and teachers, care for their friends, and strive to become responsible and compassionate individuals.
He also urged them to cultivate a lifelong reading habit, remain physically active, and uphold values such as honesty, kindness, gratitude and respect, describing these qualities as the true measure of a person’s character.
Highlighting the importance of collaboration between schools and families, Wong said education is a shared responsibility that requires strong partnerships between teachers and parents.
“When schools and families work hand in hand, we can nurture children who are intellectually capable, morally upright, emotionally resilient, physically healthy, and socially responsible,” he added.
Expressing confidence in Engkilo Kindergarten, Wong said the dedication of its teachers, the unwavering support of parents and the enthusiasm of its pupils would continue to produce confident, compassionate and capable young learners who will contribute meaningfully to society in the years ahead.
He also congratulated the organising committee for successfully hosting the combined Parents’ Day and Children’s Day celebration, while extending his best wishes to parents, teachers and children.
The celebration brought together members of the Board of Management, teachers, parents and guests in recognising the invaluable contributions of families and educators in nurturing the next generation.
The celebration also witnessed Wong distributed red packets to the children present.
