KUCHING: Inclusive education provided through Community Learning Centres (CLCs) at palm oil plantations in Sarawak is running well, says Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
The Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development said the centres cater to the educational needs of foreign farm workers’ children in a well-managed and secure environment.
“The centres must be registered, and the teachers who teach there are also certified to ensure quality education.
“While the CLC registration is still in process, the plantation companies must ensure that the conditions are followed, especially a conducive and safe environment.”
She was speaking at the 78th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia’s Independence Day celebration at the Waterfront Hotel here on Wednesday night (Sept 27).
Earlier, Fatimah said the Sarawak government is committed to providing educational facilities not only to local children but also to foreign children.
“The CLCs provide basic education to children until they reach the age of 12.”
She mentioned that the Sarawak government agreed to approve the establishment of CLCs in accordance with the guidelines set by the Malaysian Ministry of Education (MoE).
“CLCs are very close to my heart because I was directly involved with their establishment. It involves Indonesian children on farms aged 12 and below.
“This effort carried out with the MoE allows us to establish 16 CLCs throughout Sarawak.
“This is our support to ensure that every child, regardless of nationality, has the right to education. We know that education is important to a country.”
Also present were Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; Consul-General of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuching, Raden Sigit Witjaksono; Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, and other dignitaries.
