SeDidik to be outstanding provider of early childhood education, says Razi
SIBU: SeDidik is set for growth and impactful connection with the community through networking systems with both local and overseas learning institutions, said Deputy Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Development Mohamad Razi Sitam.
He pointed out that such partnerships are vital in its effort to elevate SeDidik, an institution under the ministry, to become an outstanding provider of early childhood education and childcare in the country.
SeDidik, he said, has collaborated with Open University Malaysia (OUM) to send the second cohort to take up the Diploma in Early Childhood Education programme.
“For this year, a total of eight educators and five assistant educators from SeDidik have graduated with diploma at the recent OUM Convocation held at Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur.
“One supervisor and four educators from Community Education Centre (PPK) Penan will also be sent to pursue their studies in Diploma in Early Childhood Education programme at the OUM Miri campus,” Mohamad Razi said after officiating at the SeDidik Sibu convocation ceremony here yesterday.
He stressed that besides having qualified early childhood educators, it is also imperative for the institution to have strong, effective curriculum contents.
Adding on, he said SeDidik has grown over the years with a total of 98 centres statewide since its inception in July 27, 2020.
This, he said, include the latest addition of SeDidik RPR Bandaria Park Kindergarten in Bintulu, SeDidik Kindergarten in Lawas and SeDidik Semariang Batu Kindergarten in Kuching as well as the Unimas Workplace Nursery and Dalat Community Wellbeing Complex Workplace Nursery.
“These facilities are set up to provide service support to working parents and such expansion has proven that SeDidik has gained their trust. Therefore, SeDidik needs to enhance its service, quality and facilities,” he stressed.
Adding on, he said SeDidik has opened its door to children with special needs this year.
“As of Oct 13 this year, 27 out of 98 SeDidik centres have admitted special needs children under their care, of which 19 of them have OKU cards while the other 44 are still in the registration process,” he revealed.
In line with the new policy of inclusive education for the disabled, the ministry together with SeDidik, have identified strategic partners namely Genius Kurnia Centre, OSEIC Sarawak and Malaysia Deaf Federation to devise training curriculum for the current 136 SeDidik teachers so that they can be well-prepared in handling the children with special needs, Mohamad Razi said.
Also present at the event was SeDidik general manager Ayub Dahari who witnessed the presentation of convocation certificates to some 83 children from eleven SeDidik centres in Sibu.