RM16 million Special Annual Grants for Sarawak preschool education - Fatimah Abdullah

KUCHING, Oct 12 -- The Sarawak government had approved Special Annual Grants (GTK) totalling RM16 million since 2019 to assist registered early childhood institutions in the state, said its Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah. 

Under the GTK, she said each registered early childhood institution was entitled to a RM5,000 grant for the provision of balanced-and-healthy meals, fun learning, professional development for teachers and caregivers, and activities involving parents.

“To cushion the impact of COVID-19 especially to private early childhood education institutions, the ministry allowed the GTK to be used for helping operators to pay rentals and salaries and to ensure SOP (standard operating procedures) compliance (in their operation).

She made the remarks in a statement to counter Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) president, Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh’s allegation recently that the state and federal governments had not paid enough attention to early childhood education.

Fatimah said Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had announced RM37 million under the 2022 State Budget for early childhood and care institutions, one-stop early intervention centre Sarawak and the operation of 94 kindergartens and childcare centres under Sedidik Sdn Bhd, a state-owned company.

She said for this year alone, her ministry had approved 2,755 out of 2,946 applications under GTK, as well as allowing the grants for carrying out minor repairs and buying furniture for the early childhood education institutions.

“Under our state-owned (subsidiary) SeDidik, we focus on equity, to ensure that children in rural areas especially are not left behind in preschool education. This is to help complement the federal government’s initiatives through KEMAS, MOE preschools and Unity Kindergartens,” she said.

Besides organising Sarawak Preschool Kids Got Talent annually to focus on young children’s talents to ensure they enjoyed holistic development, Fatimah said her ministry had also organised various courses and workshops to enhance the knowledge and skills of their teachers and caregivers.

She said her ministry also recognised the contributions of preschool teachers in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) by publishing a book recently entitled ‘Women in ECCE: Sowing The Seeds For The Future’.

“With this brief sharing on ECCE in Sarawak, it is my hope that those who are not in the know due to reason best known to them have gained useful insights. Rest assured that the state government is giving its best to ensure all Sarawak preschool children has access to early childhood care,” she added.

-- BERNAMA