KUCHING: Sarawak is the first state to introduce inclusive early childhood education through the state government's open door policy.
Sarawak Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, said the state government is committed to promoting inclusion by introducing sign language in early childhood education centres.
She said this initiative had also been commended by Universiti Malaysia senior lecturer Dr Hasnah Toran during the Sarawak Preschool International Convention on November 18.
"To further promote the value of inclusion and respect for diversity of abilities, SeDidik (an early childhood education centre owned by the Sarawak government) has introduced sign language in the presentation of the national anthem, Negaraku, and the state's patriotic song, Ibu Pertiwiku, in all SeDidik nurseries and kindergartens.
"To expand the use of sign language, SeDidik will introduce a basic sign language for daily communication suitable for the age groups of children," she said when winding up debate for the ministry in the State Legislative Assembly today (November 28).
Fatimah said a total of 152 or 93 per cent of SeDik's educators and caregivers had so far been trained by the Malaysia Federation of the Deaf. — Bernama
