RM16 mln allocated for second special grant for registered early childhood education institutions
Young SeDidik pupils perform during the 28th Kuching Zone SeDidik convocation ceremony in Kuching. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: The Sarawak government has allocated RM16 million for the second-year implementation of the Special Yearly Grant (GTK) for
registered early childhood education institutions (IPAKK) in Sarawak.
Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah says the grant is
given regardless of whether the IPAKK is registered under the state or federal government.
The assistance, she adds, is given to ensure that care, guidance and education given to children in Sarawak are of high quality.
“The Sarawak government believes that investing in early childhood development is a valuable investment.
“Quality early childhood development will contribute
and help towards the development of well-rounded human capital,” she said at the 28th Kuching Zone SeDidik convocation ceremony at a hotel here yesterday.
Fatimah presents a certificate to one of the SeDidik ‘little graduates’. At right is SeDidik general manager Nor Ashikin Abdul Rahman.
Fatimah pointed out that the implementation of GTK was carried out for the first time this year, where the state government had also allocated RM16 million.
Each IPAKK, she said, received RM5,000 to run activities such as providing healthy and balanced meals to the children, and also implementing fun learning, professional development of teachers.
“Out of this allocation, 27,620 children from 1,118 pre-schools under the Sarawak State Education Department (JPNS) benefitted from the GTK, with an allocation of RM5.59 million.
“Apart from that, 20,777 children from 1,113 nurseries under the Community Development Department (Tabika Kemas) also benefitted from the GTK allocation of RM5.565 million, while an allocation of RM880,000 was allocated to 176 IPAKKs under the Department of National Unity and National Integration (Perpaduan).”
She added that this meant that the allocation channelled to IPAKK under federal government agencies amounted to RM12.035 million, comprising 75 per cent.
For private kindergartens, Fatimah said 28,310 children from 503 kindergartens benefitted from GTK with an allocation of RM2.515 million.
“Meanwhile, 29 kindergartens under the Sarawak Islamic Council Education Service Bureau (BPPMIS) received an allocation of RM145,000, whereas for SeDidik, 82 SeDidik Mutiara and Perdana centres received an allocation of RM415,000.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, in tabling the State Budget 2020 recently, also announced an allocation of RM20 million to take over 100 SeDidik pre-schools and kindergartens next year.