By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 23: Preliminary findings from the first Sarawak Child Wellbeing Index (SCWI) indicated that 54 per cent of children experience deprivation in at least three dimensions of wellbeing, which provide a crucial foundation for the Sarawak government to design more targeted interventions, particularly in the areas of education, safety, and emotional support.
In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) report, Minister for Women, Early Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, said the study, which involved 3,124 children, helps the government identify specific groups and areas that need focused attention.
“This is what we need to know. Where we must direct greater attention following this study, so that targeted interventions can be implemented,” she said during a press conference here on Thursday (Oct 22).
The study, conducted by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), assessed seven dimensions of wellbeing, namely, economic status, education and development, social, emotional and cultural aspects, health and nutrition, family and peer relationships, safety and security as well as access to information and communication technology (ICT).
According to Fatimah, the study’s findings show that 54 per cent of children experience deprivation in at least three dimensions of wellbeing, while 30.5 per cent face deprivation in at least four.
Regarding education, although 95.5 per cent of children said they enjoy learning, more than one-third have not reached the established proficiency level in mathematics, and one in four has not attained the required level of literacy.
On safety and emotional support, 49 per cent do not meet the established standards for physical safety at home and in their daily environments, while nearly 30 per cent lack someone to talk to when they feel lonely.
“The findings also reveal gaps in access to basic and digital facilities, while 82 per cent of children meet the established standards for access to clean water, nearly half of school-going children still lack adequate access to learning devices,” she said.
Meanwhile, the study identified Miri and Kota Samarahan as divisions that recorded outcomes below the state average across several dimensions of wellbeing.
Fatimah said these findings underscore the importance of intervention approaches that account for geographical differences and local needs.
She added that the SCWI’s preliminary findings will guide the design of policies and programmes that better respond to children’s needs, through collaboration among agencies, particularly those in the education, health, and welfare sectors, as well as local authorities. — DayakDaily
