MIRI : The Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development is committed to ensure that all children in Sarawak are equipped with digital literacy so that they are not left behind in the digitalisation era, said its minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
“Therefore, today, we are going to witness a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing between our ministry, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak and Rolf Schnyder Welfare Association for project KIDS: Bits and Bytes Foundational Literacy Programme for children, aged five to six, under SeDidik as a pilot project,” she said yesterday during the Sarawak Preschool International Convention 2022 here.
She said, this programme aims to provide computer literacy and coding training and classes for teachers and children to develop vital computational thinking and reasoning skills that are essential for a technology reliant future.
“The foundational computer literacy programme will deliver basic coding and robotic classes to young children in fun, engaging and exciting ways to inculcate life-long skills such as computer literacy, creativity, problem solving skills, communication, critical thinking, confidence as well as empower the children of today to become the innovators, inventors and leaders of tomorrow,” Fatimah said.
On the preschool convention, she said her ministry was committed in providing continuous professional development programmes for educators and caregivers in Sarawak.
“The preschool convention has been conducted since 2006 with various themes, and this year the ministry is organising the second the Sarawak Preschool International Convention 2022. Last year we started with one international convention held virtually and this year we are able to have it in hybrid mode, involving 300 participants attending physically here, and over 1,000 are attending online.
“Our educators, caregivers, children and parents should be equipped with the knowledge and skills to help and support our young children to adapt themselves and to be resilient living in the new norm,” she said, adding that this year’s theme is “Adaptability and Resilience In The New Norm”.
She added that this theme is chosen to emphasise the importance of having the relevant skills among Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) teachers to be able to adapt and cope with the ever changing educational and socio-economic environments.
“Adaptability as we are fully aware is a soft skill which manifests one’s ability to easily adjust and adapt to changing circumstances,” she said.
Present at the convention were Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg; Sibuti MP Lukanisman Awang Sauni; Women, Childhood and Community Wellbing Development (Women and Childhood Development) Deputy Minister Datuk Rosey Yunus; Youth, Sport and Entrepreneur Development (Entrepreneur Development) Deputy Minister Dr Ripin Lamat; Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Sebasrian Ting and Miri Mayor cum Pujut assemblyman Adam Yii Siew Sang.
