KUCHING: Sarawak continues to strengthen its commitment to inclusive early childhood education through strategic collaboration with the National Association of Early Childhood Care & Education Malaysia (NAECCEM) and Tokyo Education & Inclusion Consultancy (Toy8).
This initiative serves as a key driver in building a comprehensive support system for children with special needs, aligning with the Equity pillar under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, said Sarawak has taken proactive steps ahead of other states in adopting inclusive early childhood education policies.
“We do not want children with special needs to be isolated.
“They should learn together with their typically developing peers to nurture empathy, awareness, and mutual understanding from a young age,” she said.
She said this during a courtesy visit by NAECCEM and Toy8 representatives at OSEIC, Metrocity Matang today.
She also extended her gratitude to all childcare (TASKA) and kindergarten (Tadika) operators who have opened their doors to children with special needs without separating them from other children.
“What NAECCEM and Toy8 provide is a vital support system for our educators, who require specialized training to effectively teach these special children,” she added.
She emphasized that the success of inclusive education policies relies not just on government efforts, but also on collaboration from all parties, including local authorities, childcare communities, educational institutions and parents.
NAECCEM, which has been offering training for foster parents since 2023, is now expanding its focus to address the needs of children with special needs.
Through its “Noise Special Needs” programme, NAECCEM provides educators with specialized learning modules and highlights the importance of comprehensive early intervention.
NAECCEM president, Syamsinah Che Shariff, announced that a dedicated course will take place on 9 and 10 August at Hotel Serapi, targeting caregivers and parents of children with special needs.
Seventy participants from across Sarawak are expected to attend, with the programme featuring experienced instructors, including speech therapists and child development experts.
“This initiative also supports the transition of special needs children into mainstream schools after they show positive development through intervention,” said Toy8 founder and CEO, Shun Matzuka.
“We also introduced a game-based digital developmental screening tool, now in use at OSEIC, which helps shorten waiting lists and speeds up the intervention process,” he said.
