KUCHING: A new chapter in advancing inclusive early childhood education in Sarawak unfolds through the collaboration between the Sarawak Society for the Deaf (SSD) and SeDidik, with a focus on promoting the use of Sign Language and supporting the deaf community.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between both parties was witnessed by the Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah today.
She underscored the significance of adopting an ‘open door policy’ to ensure children with special needs are given access to education at SeDidik kindergartens.
“SeDidik now welcomes children with special needs, and the demand continues to grow. This reflects parents’ confidence in the quality of inclusive education,” she said.
She said this during her speech at the Hand & Sign Day programme held at the SSD, Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho.
She further commended SeDidik’s efforts in equipping 98.4 per cent of its teachers with basic Sign Language certification, which is applied during Circle Time sessions involving nearly 3,000 children across Sarawak.
The event also addressed the implementation of a cochlear implant programme in collaboration with renowned surgeon Prof. Dr Tang, benefiting patients aged between two and 40 years old to regain their hearing ability, thereby enabling access to speech therapy and communication rehabilitation.
“The ability to master Sign Language is not only crucial for the deaf community but is also useful for individuals such as stroke patients and children with autism who encounter speech delays,” she said.
In addition, she stressed the importance of promoting greater awareness of deaf culture in society, including encouraging employers to hire individuals with hearing disabilities and enhancing social interaction between the deaf and hearing communities.