Malaysian Children - Their Education, Health, Safety and Stress

Children

According to a local newspaper, it is reported that whether we have our priorities right. Children are paying too much attention to excel in their education at the expense of their health and safety. It’s quite normal nowadays that parents wish to enroll their children in the best primary school in town and hope that they can have a head start in their education. But now you even have to book in advance a place with your tutor for your tuition for next year. Seeking educational excellence is going to the extreme. 

 On the other hand, the health of children in Malaysia is deteriorating at an alarming rate. Children as young as 7 are developing Type 2 diabetes.11 percent of Peninsular Malaysia children between 6 and 12 were overweight and 6 percent were obese (2000UKM study). This has to do with their eating habit and couch-potato lifestyle. Parents are giving in to their children and pampering them by allowing them to frequent fast food outlets. The unhealthy eating habit contributes to the growing trend of Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol level. 

 In addition, the safety of children is at stake. 8,000 children were missing in the last 5 years and three out of four missing children are girls, four of 10 children go missing after running away with peers or lovers. More than500 children were reported missing between January and May this year.

 In the meanwhile, Malaysian children are under tremendous stress. They have to do well academically and they have less time to spend outdoor to develop a healthy lifestyle. On top of that their safety is vulnerable. No wonder 130,000 children suffer from mental illnesses and 53 children under 11 and 1837 above 12 attempted suicides in 2000. One reason is that both the parents are working and they have no time for their children. They have not only neglected their children but their lives are equally stressful. 

Just spend some quality time on a regular basis with your children and it will make a world of difference.

Image source:https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/reports/children-mean-raise