KUCHING: A pilot project for a children’s playground in a residential area will be carried out in December this year.
According to of Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, the project would be a collaboration between the government, private companies, local authorities and the developer of the residential area.
“This is important for cognitive, physical and communicative development in children, and this would also create an engagement or bond between children and their parents.
“I hope that this pilot project would be a benchmark for other local authorities as well,” Fatimah said at a press conference after the Sarawak Early Childhood Education Development Council (MPAKS) meeting at Masja here yesterday.
Fatimah also announced an ‘Early Childhood Development Strategic Plan 2016-2020’ for the state following the decision by MPAKS to do so.
“Next year will be the 10th anniversary of the formation of the council, so we decided to make this strategic plan to ensure that there will be good social services accessible for children aged from two months to six years.
“The strategic plan aims to allow children to have access, equity, quality and unity in their early childhood development, which is important during their early childhood years especially since we live in a diverse country,” Fatimah said.
She also announced that the 10th Preschool Convention themed ‘Parental Involvement’ would
be held in Miri in October next year.
“During the convention, we would be holding award presentations for the first time, which would include ‘Prasekolah Tercontoh’, ‘Tokoh Tercontoh’ as well as ‘Guru Prasekolah Cemerlang,” Fatimah stated, adding that a special committee for evaluation purposes would be set up.
She also announced that the second series of ‘Randau Pengasuhan Kanak-Kanak’ themed ‘TLC’ (Tender Loving Care) would be held in May next year here.
She added that more childcare centres at workplaces would be established next year.