One evening many moons ago, I met with Kee Keok Kuay and Ee Ching Wah That Wednesday meeting was out of the ordinary. We usually met every week, but on a Sunday. Something must be up.

Ee and I arrived first at our regular coffee joint. Within seconds Kee came, and he excitedly said, “Let’s start a kindergarten!” 

Our work as engineers had brought us together. For over three decades, we shared a strong and unbreakable bond.

But where did a kindergarten fit into the scheme of things? 

We discussed into the evening the 4Ws and 1H of the ‘proposition’. As dusk came, we decided that we’d reconvene to ‘cast our votes’.

We met that Sunday. “I’m in!” announced Ee, even before he sat down. 

I was deep in my thoughts. There was an incident in my life that I could not get out of my mind. 

When Kee and Ee prompted me for my answer, I shared this account.

The bicycle was my main mode of transport to school, and as such, I was exposed to the elements. On one of the days, it had rained. I arrived in class drenched, but it didn’t occur to my teacher or any other teachers in the subsequent lessons to get me dry clothes. I shivered my way through the day. 

From then on, I dreamt of a school in which teachers took on the role of parents in the way they cared for children and inspired them. 

So, here was my answer, “I’m in. Let’s #makeadifference in children’s lives”.

Thirty-five years flew by, and R.E.A.L, an acronym for Result Enhancing through Active Learning, has disrupted #earlychildhoodeducation (ECE) in every positive sense. 

R.E.A.L was the beginning of a new category of kindergartens. Today, you see the term child enrichment centres (CEC). We referred to our kindergartens as CECs even then.

Our centres were the first of their kind in Malaysia. Each featured a swimming pool, computer lessons, gym class, and moderate student numbers per class. 

Initially, we were unsure if the market was ready for such a ‘revolution’ in early childhood education. 

The overwhelming response told us otherwise, to the extent that R.E.A.L grew to become Malaysia’s largest owner-operated ECE provider.

In 2020, we divested our interests.  We had built the brand and enjoyed every moment of doing it, and it was time to move on. 

For me, I am furthering my #passionforeducation. 

In 2016, I acquired Dika College (https://www.dika.edu.my), a specialist in the education of early childhood educators and special needs educators. In moving forward, I’d like to focus on #lifelonglearning #education that begins at the point of conception. 

The photo with this post is of the three of us on a visit to the United States. Kee is on my right and Ee is on my left. We still meet whenever we can. 

#coffeetime and #friends. I’d say this is a winning combination. 

What do you say? Please drop me a comment.

Have a great week ahead. 

Dr Sim Quan Seng
Educator-at-heart