By GOH PEI PEI & SARAH HAFIZAH CHANDRA
KUCHING: The Sarawak government is in discussion with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) about offering a special training programme for teachers to acquire knowledge and skills in identifying children’s talents.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said he hoped that teachers, especially those in kindergartens or early childhood education, would also equip themselves with psychology and philosophy knowledge.
Apart from educating or teaching, he said, teachers should be trained to engage the young children, either in meaningful conversation or in play-based learning.
This, he said, could help to explore and discover the unique talents or abilities of the young children, whether they are interested in sports, science, or performing arts, among others.
“Once we identify their talents, we can nurture and grow their interests or enrol them in the suitable course,” he said at the launch of the Hari Wanita Sarawak 2023 themed “Embrace Equity,” held at the Penview Convention Centre (PCC) Demak here today.
Abang Johari said such a programme can ensure the teachers are able to observe the children’s behaviours as well as certain traits that might indicate the children’s talents.
“I have already discussed this with the (UNIMAS) vice-chancellor Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi, and once the University Senate approves the programme, we can start training our teachers,” he said.
Elaborating, he said that the Sarawak government will provide scholarships to the teachers who are eligible for the special training programme.
In Scandinavian countries, he said, they are already doing this; hence, they have quality human resources despite having a small population.
“We also need to produce a quality population in order to transform Sarawak into a developed state,” he said.
Apart from that, the Premier also approved RM2.5 million for the women’s empowerment fund, which was requested by Women, Early Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
Abang Johari said he was glad to learn that various programmes and funds provided by the ministry have helped many women from B40 families as well as single mothers.
“I have met a successful woman entrepreneur who is producing perfume using local raw materials. She was actually one of the participants in the ministry’s women empowerment programme) and managed to set up the business using funding from the state government.
“Thus, I approved RM2.5 million for the women in Sarawak, as I am confident we can produce more successful women entrepreneurs,” he added.
Abang Johari also advised the women to venture into downstream industries, producing value-added products such as animal feed.
The increasing prices of eggs and chickens, he said, were mainly due to the increasing prices of animal feed, which is imported from other countries.
Therefore, he encouraged local businesses to do research or study how to produce animal feed so that the state does not need to rely on the imported ones.
“This is one of the potential businesses that I have shared with other entrepreneurs. Today, I am telling you (women) the same thing, as I am confident you can do it too.
Among those present were Abang Johari’s wife Puan Sri Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development Malaysia Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri and others.
