By Brad Rantayy
MIRI, Aug 28: In 2021, SeDidik Sdn Bhd embarked on teaching sign language to the children under its care through the teachers, as part of its inclusive education policy.
“As of now, 45 per cent of the teachers and children under their care have learnt sign language starting with ‘Negaraku’ and ‘Ibu Pertiwiku’,” disclosed Women, Childhood and Community Welbeing Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah during the closing of Sarawak Preschool International Convention 2022 here today.
She added, under the inclusion programme, teachers are provided support through in-service training.
SeDidik is an agency under the Sarawak government tasked with providing quality and affordable early childhood education and care services.
Also in the pipeline is a strategic partnership with Sarawak One-Stop Early Invention Centre (OSEIC) in teachers’ training and support services in managing challenging behaviours of children with autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Fatimah said.
“Earlier on during the opening ceremony and well as the closing ceremony, all of us were able to witness the outcome of the programme. I think not many of us realised that three of the children among of the performers were special needs children,” she pointed out.
On another note, Fatimah said that her ministry recognises that there is a need to extend OSEIC services to other divisions like Miri as well as to rural areas.
“Insyallah it is just a matter of time” she said.
Sarawak OSEIC was officially declared open on Friday, October 30, 2020.
It is a joint development project between the Sarawak government and Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) aimed at providing support and rehabilitation for children with special needs.
At this year’s Sarawak Preschool International Convention, 340 participants have been attending the convention in person in Miri while a total of 924 participants have been attending virtually.
This includes 38 from Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah, two from India, 11 from Brunei, seven from Singapore, 36 from Indonesia and one from Cambodia.
The convention aims to provide a platform for participants to enhance knowledge, understanding and skills besides giving them the opportunity to meet other participants for networking and to share ideas.
The Sarawak Preschool International Convention was first held in 2016.
However, in 2021, amidst the Covid-19 outbreak, Sarawak took a big step to organise the convention virtually with an overwhelming participation of 2,102 individuals, including 20 from Indonesia, Singapore, Japan and Brunei.
Last year, the convention’s theme was “Character Building In The New Norm” and this year’s theme was “Adaptability and Resilience In The New Norm”.
Both themes were specifically chosen to help and support educators and caregivers in facing the unpredictable challenges of Covid-19.
Also present today were Deputy Minister of Women and Early Childhood Development Datuk Rosey Yunus, Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Sarawak Permanent Secretary Rashidah Bolhassan, and Head of Early Childhood Development Division, Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Sarawak Salina Bujang. — DayakDaily
