Impact of Early Teachers on Brain Development of Malay Children from Lower Income Families in Singapore

Running head: RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Research Proposal
THE IMPACT OF THE EARLY TEACHERS IN THE BRAIN DEVELOPMENT OF THE
CHILDREN OF LOWER INCOME FAMILIES OF MALAY COMMUNITY
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author Note

1RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Abstract
The paper proposes to analyse the impact of the early teachers in the growth of the brain of the
Malay children who come from the lower income group. This issue is considered to be an
important topic because brain development is the concern among the children of the lower
income group is found to be more in relation to the higher income grouped children. It is also
found that children of these families have lesser academic aspirations than the non-marginalized
population of Singapore. This issue is to be considered because it is a problem that arises from
the communication gap that early teachers face while reaching out to these Malay children. In
addition to this, it is important to consider the fact that the educational infrastructures of
Singapore in relation to the minority groups like the Malays are inadequate and not sufficient.
Moreover, it is also to be considered that the impact that these teachers make in developing the
cognitive capacity of the children are not sufficient. Hence, this research will propose finding the
impact of early teaching in the healthy development in mind and body. Therefore, it is expected
that detailed research would be conducted to find out the issue within a period of one year.

2RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Table of Contents
1.1 Background of the study........................................................................................................4
1.2 Problem statement.................................................................................................................4
1.3 Research rationale..................................................................................................................5
1.4 Research aims and objectives................................................................................................5
1.4 Theoretical framework...........................................................................................................6
1.5 Structure of the study.............................................................................................................6
1.6 Research question..................................................................................................................7
2. Literature Review........................................................................................................................7
2.1 The concept of and brain development initial years education.............................................7
2.2 The issue with the children of the Malay community in Singapore....................................10
2.3 Critical analysis of brain development and early teaching of the Malay children in
Singapore...................................................................................................................................12
3. Methodology..............................................................................................................................14
3.1. Philosophy of Research......................................................................................................14
3.2. Design of Research.............................................................................................................15
3.3. Method of Data Collection.................................................................................................16
3.4. Method of sampling as well as the size of the sample........................................................17
3.5. Analysis Technique for the Acquired Data........................................................................18
3.6 Ethical consideration in research.........................................................................................19
3.7 Study limitations..................................................................................................................19

3RESEARCH PROPOSAL
3.8 Expected outcomes..............................................................................................................20
References......................................................................................................................................22

4RESEARCH PROPOSAL
1.1 Background of the study
The development of brain for a child takes place at the adolescent phase (Berk, 2017).
Over 90 % of brain development happens during this period because it is in the state of brain
plasticity where it undergoes concrete changes (Bi et al., 2018). According to Berk (2017), early
teaching and the role of the parents have a positive impact on the brain development of the child.
Moreover, development occurs at the age of 1 or 2, and it continues till the adult age (Berk,
2017). However, the tender age is the most crucial part of the development of the brain (Bruer,
2011). The development of cognitive capacity and memory are the two most important factors of
the childhood where the impacts of the early teachers are important. According to Collins (2016),
the condition of the children especially from the lower income groups is severe compared to the
rest of the children of the higher income group. It is further argued by the author that there are
few other issues for consideration like the socio-economic growth, extreme poverty or unequal
employment are also important for the present state of these groups (Collins, 2016). Hence, it is
important to consider that their underachievement of these minority groups is not isolated rather
it is attached to their lower development of cognitive capacity and brain development of these
children (Berk, 2017). It is therefore important to consider that the issue does not reside with the
elderly population rather it is there within the foundation and the basic elementary education
where the issue resides (Bi et al., 2018).
1.2 Problem statement
According to Conkbayir (2015), the ability of cognition of the child develops at the
tender age of brain development, and this is not an isolated process rather there are other
influences of socialization, types of parenting, schooling of the children and most importantly the
impact of a good teacher. Since the ability of cognition of the children are higher at the tender

5RESEARCH PROPOSAL
age, the impact of the teacher is long-standing. It is found that the impacts of the inefficient
teachers are severe for a child as it might restrict the potentials which can impact the scope of the
child from realizing their potentials (Duchesne et al., 2018). It is found that an ineffective teacher
can impact the child’s growth in a severe way than any other issue of childhood (Eve Siu
LingChen et al., 2018). The issue is even severe for the children of lower income group because
they already have lesser opportunities in life than the rest of the population and this is one of the
reasons for their undergrowth persistently (Collins, 2016). It is also found that these children
from the lower income Malayan families have lesser aspiration in life for higher achievement
than the children of higher-income families (Guy et al., 2018). Hence, it is crucial to consider the
issue of impact by the early educators in shaping the brain development of the children.
1.3 Research rationale
There is a plethora of evidence showing the status of the Malay children in Singapore
especially from the lower income groups and how they fail to avail the better opportunities in
higher education. According to Collins (2016), it is estimated that a maximum number of under
development among the Malay children are because of the underachievement and
underdevelopment of their brain architecture during childhood(Berk, 2017). Hence, the purpose
of the research will be focused on the issue of the possible impact of early educators for the
overall development of the group of the Singapore Malay children from the lower income
grouped.
1.4 Aim and objectives of the research
This research proposes to highlight the issues and analyse the impact of the early
educators in the development of the brain architecture of the Malay underprivileged children in
Singapore. Hence, they are certain aims and objectives adopted for the purpose of the research.