Minister aims for 99 pct of S’wak kids to have access to early education in 2024
KUCHING: Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah aims for 99 per cent of Sarawak children to have access to early childhood education this year.
In this regard, her Ministry of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Sarawak (KPWK) is collaborating with SeDidik Sdn Bhd, Education Department (JPN), Community Development Department (Kemas), National Unity and Integration Department (JPNIN) and Association for Kindergarten Operators (AKO) towards achieving this goal.
This was highlighted in a press conference yesterday, called after the Sarawak Children’s Early Education Development Council (MPAKS) meeting.
According to Fatimah, 98.71 per cent of the children who were in Primary 1 in Sarawak last year received early childhood education from preschools, namely childcare centres, nurseries and kindergartens.
“We want to improve further, from 98.71 per cent to 99 per cent in 2024,” she stressed.
The ministry also intends to be inclusive to all children, including those with disabilities.
In this respect, she said her ministry planned to collaborate with the One-Stop Early Intervention Centre (OSEIC) in equipping teachers, caretakers and also parents with sufficient knowledge on managing children with special needs.
Emphasising on the quality of educators, Fatimah said by 2025, all SeDidik teachers would have at least a diploma in early childhood education.
In support of KPWK’s mission, she said the state government had approved an Annual Special Grant (GTK) of RM14 million, which would be used for healthy and balanced nutrition, fun learning, digitalisation of childcare and guidance, experiential learning, professional development programme for educators and caregivers, and also programmes involving parents.
“KPWK also aims to subsidise the fees for early childhood education and childcare this year.”