Sarawak’s inclusive early childhood care model recognised at ARNEC 2025

Facebook
X
WhatsApp
Telegram
Email
Fatimah (third left) and her team at the ARNEC 2025.

LET’S READ SUARA SARAWAK/ NEW SARAWAK TRIBUNE E-PAPER FOR FREE AS ​​EARLY AS 2 AM EVERY DAY. CLICK LINK

MANILA, The Philippines: Sarawak’s pioneering efforts in inclusive early childhood care and education (ECCE) received international recognition at the Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood (ARNEC) Conference 2025 held here.

Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah led the state’s delegation and presented Sarawak’s innovative strategies in integrating children with special needs into mainstream ECCE services.

“Disability inclusion begins in early childhood. By teaching empathy, understanding, and respect from the start, we are shaping a more inclusive future for all,” she said.

She added that a key highlight was Sarawak’s implementation of the ‘Open Door Policy’ through SeDidik, the state-owned ECCE provider.

It has successfully integrated 198 children with special needs, representing 6.8 per cent of its total enrolment across 106 centres statewide.

Teachers in these centres have undergone training in inclusive practices and basic sign language, ensuring a safe and respectful learning environment for every child.

“The state has also expanded its One-Stop Early Intervention Centres (OSEIC) to both urban and rural areas, currently supporting over 683 children with developmental needs.

“These centres play a critical role in early detection and intervention, enabling better long-term outcomes.

“To address delays in developmental screening, we partnered with Japanese social enterprise TOY8 to introduce digital screening tools, a move aimed at reducing backlogs and enabling earlier assessments,” she added.

Supported by the Nippon Foundation and the Japanese government, the initiative ensures smoother transitions from intervention programmes into mainstream kindergartens.

Notably, four children have successfully made the shift, reflecting early success of the state’s inclusive education pathway.

The ARNEC 2025 conference, themed ‘Advancing Equitable Early Childhood Development (ECD) Services: The Critical Role of Effective Local Governance’, brought together policymakers and practitioners from across the region.

Accompanying Fatimah were Deputy Minister Datuk Rosey Yunus, Permanent Secretary Datuk Felicia Tan, and Head of the Ministry’s Early Childhood Division Salina Bujang.

Sarawak’s participation highlights its growing leadership role in ECCE innovation and inclusive education policies within the region.

Related News

Most Viewed Last 2 Days