Through the preschool teacher’s VeggieNest horticulture initiative, the boy was encouraged to care for a plant. Gradually, this simple act of nurturing unlocked an interest in vegetables. Before long, he began eating them – not because he was forced to, but because he wanted to.
“That’s the key,” Nurhayatul, 44, shared with FMT Lifestyle. “When children do things themselves, they develop self-drive. That’s more important.”
This belief in the power of self-motivated learning is central to everything Nurhayatul does. Recently honoured during the Asia Education Awards 2024 in Bangkok as Teacher of the Year in Preschool Education, this mother of five has spent 18 years shaping young minds at Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Child Development Laboratory.
This award has given her the platform to advocate for the importance of early childhood education. “This isn’t just for me. It’s for all the teachers in early childhood education,” she said.
For the Kajang-based Nurhayatul, the award reflects a larger shift: “It shows that early childhood education in Malaysia is being recognised globally.”
Her classroom is more than just a place for learning letters and numbers – it’s a sanctuary for children who need guidance and care.
“When I teach them something new, that’s my self-satisfaction,” she explained. “I love seeing the changes in children, from the beginning until the end. Even if they can’t read at first, it doesn’t matter. What’s important is that they want to come to school and have fun.”
Born in Teluk Intan, Perak, it was almost as if Nurhayatul was destined to be a teacher. The eldest of four siblings in a family of educators, she grew up surrounded by the values of learning and compassion. Her father, a former headmaster at Ipoh’s prestigious Anglo-Chinese School, made sure education wasn’t just about books.
“My father believed in learning through play,” she shared with a smile. “Every weekend, we’d head to the beach. It wasn’t just about fun; he’d ask questions like, ‘Why is the sand like this?’ or ‘Why does the water feel cold?’ Those experiences taught me how to think, not just what to think.”
She carries forward her father’s ethos at UPM, where she teaches around 150 students aged three months to six years. Despite her passion for teaching, her path was not straightforward. After completing Form Three, she pursued mechanical engineering at a technical school in Ipoh, then a diploma in computer science at UiTM.
She worked as a programmer at Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh before finding her true calling in early childhood education. Partly thanks to her mother’s advice, she graduated with a degree from Sultan Idris Education University.
At UPM’s Child Development Laboratory, Nurhayatul champions child-centred learning, blending the standard curriculum with hands-on experiences. “If the theme is vehicles, we don’t just show drawings; we take the children to explore a car, touch its parts, and label them,” she explained.
The facility also boasts innovative tools like trampolines and sand play areas, designed to support physical and cognitive development.
“Even something as simple as jumping helps improve motor skills,” she added. “Every activity is backed by research, ensuring each child gets the best foundation.”
One of her proudest achievements is VeggieNest, started three years ago, where children grow vegetables in hydroponic systems and plant beds.
Once the veggies mature, it’s harvested, cooked, and shared. “When kids grow their own food, they’re more excited to eat it,” she laughed. Inspired by its success, she hopes to expand the programme to urban kindergartens.
Looking ahead, she is championing a digital transformation at UPM, incorporating educational apps into the classroom.
But she has remained focused on what matters most. “Early childhood education is the foundation. If we only focus on academics and neglect character, we risk raising a generation that can’t adapt to change,” she warned. “Education isn’t just about books.”
For Nurhayatul, learning through play remains the guiding principle, just as her father had taught her. “Nothing is more precious than a happy child.”