KUCHING: The Sarawak government has implemented various initiatives to emphasise early childhood development in recognition of the crucial role children play in shaping the state’s future.
Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali said various researches show that the characteristics of an adult are strongly tied to their early education.
“There are so many challenges out there, that’s why early childhood education is so important because if we want our children to be good, healthy and prosperous children, everything must start from early education.
“This is the most important thing. What we do today is significant in our children’s lives in the future,” she said during the Petra Jaya Tabika Kemas’s children appreciation day at Penview Convention Centre (PCC) Demak Laut, here today (Feb 8).
As a government concerned with the welfare of children, Sharifah Hasidah said the government through its Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Ministry has allocated RM2.5 million for kindergarten and nursery fees in the state.
“This initiative is to help ease the burden on parents to ensure that their children get quality early education.
“As we are aware, the state also provides a RM5000-annual grant for kindergartens and nurseries under its special annual grant (GTK) initiative,” she said.
Sharifah Hasidah, who is the Samariang assemblywoman, said her role as a state representative has also allowed her to assist in the development of kindergartens and nurseries in terms of building infrastructure and providing for its other needs.
“This is because we feel it is important for our elected representatives and our MPs to help our children get the best education with the best quality in the best environment,” she added.
A total of 450 pre-schoolers and kindergarteners under the Petra Jaya parliamentary constituency received various goodies and gifts.
