Sarawak to expand digital screening to 1,800 SeDidik students

KUCHING (March 6): The Digital Developmental Screening and Intervention Programme will be implemented across SeDidik schools statewide, with 1,800 children expected to be screened and 140 teachers professionally upskilled.

According to State Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, the programme addresses the shortage by providing immediate, data-driven ‘digital intervention’ for any child identified with developmental delays, ensuring they are not stuck on waiting lists.

“This is not just a pilot; it is a proven model. To date, we have already empowered 95 teachers and benefited 694 children in Sarawak.

“Last year, we successfully transitioned three One-Stop Early Intervention Centre (OSEIC) children into mainstream kindergartens, proving that early intervention works,” she said when chairing the OSEIC Sarawak Advisory Committee meeting here on Thursday.

Fatimah noted that Sarawak has become a global model, with a total of 518 children having completed the programme since 2021.

As of Feb 28 this year, OSEIC was supporting 593 children.

She highlighted that Sarawak has attracted RM389,546 in international support from the Nippon Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, and Hong Leong Foundation.

“To formalise this journey, we are proud to announce an upcoming memorandum of agreement with Ambassador of Japan, Noriyuki Shikata,” she said.

Aligned with the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, Fatimah said Sarawak is moving beyond economic figures to ensure the true indicator of prosperity: the confident smiles of every Sarawakian child.