‘RM5,000 for each registered preschool in Sarawak next year’
KUCHING: Sarawak government has agreed to give a grant of RM5,000 to each and every registered preschool in Sarawak next year.
The funds are to be utilised for teaching and learning purposes, said Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.
“Priority would be child centred learning, activity-based funlearning, inclusive communication and character development. As a follow-up of last year's Preschool Convention resolution, the grant can also be used for digitalising Early Childhood Care and Education ( ECCE),” she said yesterday.
She revealed that in 2019, Sarawak will have its own staterun ECCE institutions so that the state can develop its own policies based on its needs.
“We share Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg's vision of providing quality care and education for Sarawak's children from birth till six years old.
“Apart from our own policies (on ECCE), also under our jurisdiction will be the curriculum, teachers, facilities and infrastructure. For a start we will take over Sedidik's childcare centres and kindergartens totalling 82.
“We have worked hand in hand with private and the federalowned childcare centres and kindergartens under Education Department, Community Development Department ( Kemas) and National Unity and Integration Department through our Early Childhood Education and Development Council,” she said.
On another matter, she said the Chief Minister will launch the Endowment Fund ( EF) for Sarawakian children on Jan 16.
She said from Jan 1 the National Registration Department will hand over the forms of those registered as Sarawakians to the agency which manages the EF.
The EF was introduced by Abang Johari when tabling the 2019 State Budget on Nov 5. Under the EF, every newborn Sarawakian baby will be given a one-off incentive of RM1,000, irrespective of ethnicity, religious belief and social status next year.
“Parents and the general public should rest assured that under GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) government, education, welfare and wellbeing of our people is our core business,” she said.