KUCHING: A total of 47 special needs children graduated from the One-Stop Early Intervention Centre (OSEIC) yesterday.
It was the second graduation ceremony organised by OSEIC.
In her speech while officiating at the graduation ceremony at Imperial Hotel yesterday (Feb 24), Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah congratulated the management, staff and therapist of the centre for helping the children in the early intervention programme.
“For the parents, I am sure that you are happy to celebrate your children’s achievements in their education,” said Fatimah.
She emphasised that OSEIC was necessary to provide early diagnosis, intervention and rehabilitation for children aged seven and below with autism, down syndrome and learning disabilities.
“In addition, make sure the intervention is for the right disability and also do early intervention as soon as possible to ensure successful rate,” she said.
Fatimah explained that OSEIC started as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project under Petronas. It was later taken over by the ministry and funded by the Sarawak government.
“The curriculum and programme at OSEIC is adopted from Genius Kurnia and the Sarawak Society for Parents of Children with Special Needs (PIBAKAT), an NGO, appointed by the ministry to manage and operate the centre through annual grants that have been allocated by the state government,” she added.
The number of children registered at OSIEC Sarawak has increased rapidly from only 47 children since it first started in 2020 to 438 children in Dec 2022.
In 2022, 26 children (100%) graduated from OSEIC.
As of Dec 31 last year, the number of learning-disabled children up to the age of seven in Sarawak stood at 1,678.
“To our students and parents, reaching new stages or opening new chapters can be very exciting but also a little scary.
“Leaving the known behind and entering new territory can be an unsettling experience. There have been plenty of sacrifices along the way.
“But because of your determination and hard work, your child will have a better life and today’s graduation is a major step in this direction,” said Fatimah.
She also thanked PIBAKAT for managing the centre well and for its unfailing commitment in helping the children.
“We look forward to our ongoing partnerships and building upon these crucial foundations of service learning.
“I’d also like to recognise the exceptional work done by all members of staff and teachers at the OSEIC, whose dedication and commitment is essential in providing such high-quality services for our students,” she said.
