By Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, Aug 26: Strong early childhood care and education (ECCE) foundation is important to ensure Sarawak’s future leaders are well equipped.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said realizing the importance of early childhood care and education, a new ministry (Education, Innovation and Talent Development Ministry) was formed after the last Sarawak Election where ECCE was separated from it.
He explained that the reason was simple, there has been a need for a special approach to handle education for young children below the age of six years old, particularly those aged between two to four years old.
“This is the period where children like games, fun, and therefore, the way we approach to educate them must be through fun activities.
“That is where you can introduce modern inventions in life including technology to enhance learning process in this digital era,” he said at the opening ceremony of Sarawak Pre-school International Convention 2022 held at a local hotel in Miri, today.
He added that Sarawak government’s emphasis on education does not only involved pre-school but also primary, secondary as well as tertiary education.
“We don’t mind, as long as we have got the money, we will spend it on education,” he said.
At the ceremony, Abang Johari also praised Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah for her commitment and perspective to incorporate the “KIDS: Bits and Bytes Foundational Literacy Program” into ECCE.
He said the programme is about information and technology (IT), and once the children get into the ecosystem, they will learn about computer programming.
“Once they mastered that, they will know about AI (artificial intelligence). If they know AI, they will know about 3D printing (additive manufacturing), and if they know all this, Sarawak is in safe hand in digital economy,” he said.
Under “KIDS: Bits and Bytes Foundational Literacy Program”, the Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development of Sarawak collaborates with Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Persatuan Kebajikan Rolf Schnyder and the Dariu Foundation to deliver computer literacy programs to children aged five to six years old to SeDidik Centres in Sarawak.
This foundation computer literacy program involves basic coding and robotic lessons to young children in fun, engaging and exciting ways.
The program will also develop lifelong skills such as computer literacy, creativity, problem-solving skills, communication, critical thinking, confidence as well as empower the children of today to become innovators, inventors and leaders of tomorrow. – DayakDaily.
