Fatimah (standing, centre) witnessing the signing of the MoA by the ministry’s permanent secretary Megir Gumbek (seated left) and Chuah (seated right). – Photo by Muhd Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: The Ministry of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Batu Lintang Teachers Training Institute (IPGBL) for a study on English Early Literacy Programme in Early Childhood Education in Sarawak.
Its minister, Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, said 20 pre-schools in Betong and 10 in Lubok Antu had been selected for the study to ascertain how the programme would impact the teaching and learning process.
“If the pupils do well in their Literacy and Numeracy Screening (Linus) test in Year One, then we can see the impact of the programme at pre-school. As we know, the basics must start at the pre-school level,” she told a press conference after receiving a courtesy call from the institute yesterday.
Meanwhile, its senior lecturer Chuah Kim Hwa, who will lead the study, said the 30 schools were picked based on previous Linus test results.
“We found that the percentage of pupils who did not do well in their Linus test in Year One was high in Betong and Lubok Antu.
“So that became our benchmark to move into the areas with our study,” she said.
Chuah said the study objective was to improve the reading skills of pre-school pupils and teachers.
“We hope to complete the study by year end.”