KUCHING: A total of 1,900 children of registered Indonesian workers benefited from education provided through plantation community learning centres (CLCs) in Sarawak.
Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said they were from 16 centres set up in Miri, Bintulu, Mukah and Simunjan.
“Nevertheless, there are still a handful of Indonesian children, especially in the plantation sector, who are still waiting for registration approval Putrajaya.
“For us in Sarawak, we emphasise the need for them to be registered to ensure that children are educated in a safe and conducive environment, apart from being cared for by qualified people,” she said.
Fatimah said this in a press conference after receiving a courtesy call from the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching, Raden Sigit Witjaksono at her office, yesterday.
The Dalat assemblywoman said, the learning centres were established for pre-school children aged seven to twelve years old with an Indonesian education syllabus. This is in addition to being educated by teachers from Indonesia.
“CLC was set up to enable young children to still be with their parents here, but when the children grow up, they need to return and continue their education in Indonesia.
“This is because according to the Labor Law, they are not allowed to bring their children to work in Malaysia,” she said.
Fatimah added that every teacher at CLC will be sent back to Indonesia after five years of service and replaced with new teachers who have been screened by the Indonesian government.
She said, among other issues that were also discussed during the courtesy call yesterday were on stateless children and drugs. She added, they also discussed on the upcoming Sarawak International Preschool Convention 2022.
“This convention will be held on 26 to 28 August 2022 like last year and we invite teachers from CLC to participate.
“It will be held in Miri with the main objective is to share views with Indonesia, India, Singapore, Australia and Hong Kong,” she said.
