KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 — The Education Ministry has allocated RM20.5 million to train 7,420 early childhood educators this year, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today.

He was speaking at the launch of the Early Child Care and Education (ECCE) Council at KL Sentral.

He said Malaysia was the only country to have an ECCE Council with the objective of achieving professionalism, standards and quality in early education and care for children.

“Early childcare and education is regarded highly as an important component in education systems worldwide.

“The Education Ministry is in the process of drafting mechanisms to ensure educators can achieve the higher qualifications in the shortest time,” he said.

“Studies have shown that children who attend quality childhood education centres are less prone to crime and have increased marketability in the long run.”