S’wak Ministry, Unicef M’sia to study child poverty, strengthen indigenous pre-school learning

Fatimah (centre) presents a token of appreciation to Dr Juanita while others look on at the Ministry’s office at Baitulmakmur II building, Kuching on March 31, 2023.

By Nur Ashikin Louis

KUCHING, March 31: Sarawak Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development (KPWK) will collaborate with Malaysian United Nations Fund (Unicef) to look into the measurement of child poverty and strengthening indigenous pre-school learning in the region.

Through the partnership, Unicef Malaysia aims to set up an integrated cash-plus programme and develop the identification of different areas of child poverty as well as incorporate global citizenship education (GCED) and project-based learning (PBL) to strengthen the indigenous pre-school curriculum in Sarawak.

According to KPWK Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, the ministry is happy to collaborate with Unicef Malaysia, adding that the technical meeting will be carried out within these two days.

“The technical meeting will start today and tomorrow (March 31 and April 1) on how the collaboration will be conducted starting this year and the implementation for next year,” she told reporters at her office in Baitulmakmur II building here today.

Fatimah also shared an effort by Kuching South City Council (MBKS) and Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) to attain ‘Child-Friendly City’ status.

“Last month, the ministry and MBKS and DBKU mayors visited Singapore to study the policy and good practices on Singapore’s management for the elderly as part of Sarawak’s preparation to become an ageing society by 2030,” she added.

Amongst those present were KPWK permanent secretary Noriah Ahmad; deputy permanent secretary Nur Alina Abdullah; KPWK’s Social Development Council (MPS) Sarawak executive secretary Dr Zufar Yadi Brendan Abdullah; KPWK’s Early Childhood Development Division head Salina Bujang; Unicef Malaysia Chief of Social Policy, Dr Juanita Vasques Escallon; Unicef Malaysia specialist Adam Ling; and Unicef Malaysia’s Knowledge Management Officer Amarpreet Kaur. — DayakDaily