KUCHING: The Sarawak Government's commitment to driving inclusive early childhood education continues to be strengthened through strategic collaboration with the National Association of Early Childhood Care and Education Malaysia (NAECCEM) together with Toy8 Holdings.

This effort is seen as a catalyst for the formation of a comprehensive support system for children with special needs, in line with the strategic thrust of social inclusivity outlined in the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.

Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah noted that Sarawak has taken proactive steps ahead of other states in implementing an inclusive early childhood education policy.

“We do not want children with special needs to be segregated. They should be placed in the same classroom with their typically developing peers to grow up with values of empathy, awareness, and mutual understanding,” she said when receiving a courtesy call from NAECCEM and Toy8 Holdings at the One Stop Early Intervention Centre (OSEIC), here on Monday.

Meanwhile, Dato Sri Fatimah also expressed her appreciation to all TASKA and Tadika operators who have welcomed children with special needs without separating them from their peers.

“What NAECCEM and Toy8 Holdings offer are the kind of support system our educators need. They require specialised training to effectively teach the children with special needs,” she added.

She stressed that the success of inclusive policy implementation cannot rest solely on the government but requires the collective involvement of local authorities, the caregiving community, educational institutions, and parents.

NAECCEM, which has been providing training for parents since 2023, is now expanding its focus to include the special needs of children.

Through its Noise Special Needs programme, NAECCEM introduces educators to specialised learning modules and the importance of comprehensive early intervention.

NAECCEM President, Syamsinah Che Shariff informed that a special course will be held from 9 to 10 August at Serapi Hotel, specifically for caregivers and parents of children with special needs.

The course is expected to involve 70 participants from Sarawak and will feature experienced trainers including speech therapists and child development specialists.

Meanwhile, Toy8 Holdings Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Shun Matzuka said the initiative also includes a transition programme for children who have shown positive development following early intervention, preparing them for mainstream schooling.

Toy8 Holdings introduced a game-based digital developmental screening system, which is now being used at OSEIC to address long waiting lists and accelerate the intervention process. -UKASnews