KUCHING: Sarawak will focus on providing high quality early childhood education, especially in rural areas, as the state moves to become a developed state.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said it is important to ensure all children have access to quality education, even from an early age and are well-prepared when they start formal schooling.
"We want to give the best preschool programme for our children regardless where they are and want them to be ready and competitive as they enter primary school," he said.
He said the state government through the Sarawak Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Ministry (KWKPK) had decided to take over the management of childcare centres and kindergartens managed by Sedidik Sdn Bhd last year.
As such, the state government will be developing the infrastructure and workforce for the kindergartens, including trained teachers.
Abang Johari said he had also instructed the i-CATS University College to design diploma and degree courses for kindergarten teachers in Sarawak.
"Apart from infrastructure, we need quality teachers, hence, we will train them. Once they are trained, they can expect higher pay too. This is how we create a conducive learning environment for our children."
"I believe quality early childhood education is important as we move to a developed and high income state," he said.
Speaking at the 10th Anniversary of the KWKPK celebration here today, Abang Johari said the state is also looking at the ageing population in the state.
He said Sarawak is expected to have a bigger elderly population due to increasing longevity and declining birth rates or fertility as the majority of families nowadays prefer to have between one and three children.
"We need to be prepared to assist those aged above 60 years old, where most of them would be retired while others might remain active and energetic," he said.
"We need to look into how to distribute our funds and introduce policies that benefit them as well as infrastructure and services that can effectively accommodate their needs," he added.
Meanwhile, KWKPK Minister, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said about 1.6 per cent of 617 children who entered Year 1 this year, have never attended preschool.
She said it was the ministry's target to ensure all children have the opportunity to attend early childhood education before they pursue primary education.
She said several measures have been taken in line with the aspirations towards a prosperous and dignified society, which includes a post Covid-19 recovery and rehabilitation plan for the ministry's clients and preparations for the ageing population through collaborations with MyAgeing Institute, Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Besides, a digital integrated system using iSarawakCare will be completed in 2022, to facilitate and accelerate the delivery of the ministry's services to the clients.
"We also need to address the increasing expectations and demands from society towards welfare services and to improve the Sarawak Social Wellbeing Index (SSWI)," she added.