Send your teachers for basic childhood courses, nurseries urged
KUCHING: Nursery operators in Sarawak are urged to send their teachers to undergo basic childhood education courses under the Permata programme.
Minister of Welfare, Community Well-Being, Woman, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said this will provide a minimum standard for nursery teachers to deliver the best education for children who are in their formative years.
“We are also aware of the problems of nursery operators who cannot send their teachers to attend the course due to lack of manpower,” said Fatimah after chairing a roundtable meeting with various nursery operators and relevant government agencies at a leading hotel here yesterday.
She also encouraged teachers who have attended the Permata courses to further their studies by obtaining a diploma or a degree in Early Childhood Education.
The roundtable discussion also saw other issues being raised such as the minimum salary for nursery teachers which is currently set at RM920.
“We will however need to deliberate more on this issue,” said Fatimah adding that the salary scale has to be lucrative to attract teachers and not too high which may push up the nursery fees.
She also pointed out the importance of nurseries in Sarawak to be properly registered as it will ensure nursery operators follow set rules and guidelines.
“Among the areas of compliance will involve those from the Health Department, Land and Survey Department, Fire and Rescue Department and the local authorities,” she added.
Meanwhile the ministry in a press statement said it has recorded a total of 231,600 children in Sarawak aged four years old and below in 2018.
Out of the figure, only 3,678 (2.2 per cent) of them are attending nurseries while the remainder are under the care of their parents or family members.
Also present at the roundtable meeting were Assistant Minister of Women, Family and Childhood Development Rosey Yunus and Assistant Minister of Community Well Being Datuk Francis Harden Hollis.