Article first featured in RAKAN Sarawak January – March 2020 printed issue
By 2030, the State through the Sarawak Ministry of Welfare & Community Welfare, Women, Family and Childhood Development aims to ensure 100 percent accessibility to early childhood education.
According to the State Education Department, as at 2019 about 40,015 students or equivalent to 97.41 per cent from 41,078 students in Primary One in both private and public schools have early childhood education.
Realizing the importance of an inclusive early childhood education, the Sarawak government continues to provide a grant of RM36 million in 2020 for early childhood development.
Out of the RM36 million grant, RM16 million are distributed to all kindergartens and nurseries registered with the authorities while the remaining RM20 million are allocated to SeDidik.
To improve access to early childhood education especially in the interiors of Sarawak, the construction of five ‘Penan Community Kindergarten’ in Telang Usan, in Long Leng, Long Kawa, Long Kerangan, Long Jenalong dan Ba’ Selulong have been completed.
These kindergartens begin operation in 2020 and are managed by SeDidik Sdn. Bhd.
As Sarawak is committed in creating an inclusive early childhood development, the government is also emphasizing on education for children with special needs.
In 2019, the Sarawak government has announced its plan to set up special primary schools catering to children with special needs so that they too can have access to proper education.
According to YB Dato Sri Hajah Fatimah, the ministry is currently in the planning process to implement this initiative.
Apart from Kuching, it was announced that such schools would be established in other major areas in Sarawak such as Sibu and Miri.
“As a start, the ministry in collaboration with Petronas has decided to develop a One-Stop Early Intervention Centre (OSEIC) in Metro City, Matang.”
The one-stop centre provides diagnosis, intervention and rehabilitation programmes for children from seven years old and below with autism, down-syndrome and learning difficulties.
OSEIC is administered by the Society for Parents of Children with Special Needs (PIBAKAT) and began its operation in January 2020.
Touching on the quality of early childhood care and education in Sarawak, YB Dato Sri Hajah Fatimah said that the introduction of the Special Annual Grant (GTK) by the Sarawak government as a mean of ensuring the effectiveness of ECCE (Early Childhood Care and Education) for all early childhood institutions in Sarawak are not compromised.
“Our record shows that RM11.7 million (73.53%) of the total funding for GTK of RM16 million is allocated to 2,407 federal run early childhood institutions which benefits 51,689 children.”
“Quality human capital starts with quality early childhood development as it provides a solid foundation at net level of formal education. As a caring government, Sarawak gives great emphasis on a holistic and inclusive early childhood development,” said YB Dato Sri Hajah Fatimah
Article first featured in RAKAN Sarawak January – March 2020 printed issue
