PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA: Children who are educated at an early age will develop a high level of confidence and be more emotionally secure when they are older.

Deputy Prime Minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor said that education at an early age would help stimulate a child's cognitive and social skills, thus elevating their self-esteem.

"As parents, we should focus on ensuring our children are exposed to books and other forms of education from at least as young as 4, as this generation (of children) are the leaders of the nation in the future."

She said that the government had, last year, allocated RM150 million under the economic stimulus package for the National Permata Programme, which stressed on early education for children.

Rosmah, who is the patron for the Finance Ministry's Wives of Civil Servants and Women Civil Servants Association (Puspanita), was speaking at an appreciation lunch for her here yesterday, organised by the ministry's Puspanita.

The recently approved National Permata Programme curriculum for children aged 4 and below is aimed at developing and stimulating children's cognitive and social skills in a holistic approach.

Also at the event was second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop's wife, Puan Sri Fawziyah Begum Mohammad Abu Bakar, who is the national Puspanita chairman, and the Finance Ministry Puspanita chairman Puan Sri Hayati Omar.