KUCHING: Sarawak is developing an Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Framework as a comprehensive guide to strengthen coordination, quality and direction in the state's early childhood care and education sector.

Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the framework would bring together key aspects of ECCE, including access, quality, inclusivity, child development and educator professionalism.

She said the framework would also cover family involvement, a safe and conducive learning environment, early detection and intervention, good governance and children's transition into formal education.

"More importantly, this framework will help us determine what quality ECCE should look like in the Sarawak context," she said.

She said this at the opening ceremony of the Sarawak Preschool International Convention 2026 (SPIC 2026) at Waterfront Hotel, here, on Friday.

Dato Sri Fatimah added that developing ECCE requires a cross-sectoral approach, given that children's needs are closely linked to education, health, nutrition, family wellbeing and protection.

In this regard, she said cooperation between government, academia, ECCE practitioners, industry, community and families must continue to be strengthened to ensure children's needs are addressed comprehensively.

As of 31 August 2026, Sarawak has 2,949 ECCE institutions, comprising 2,719 kindergartens (TADIKA) and 230 childcare centres (TASKA), serving 72,136 children with the support of 5,796 teachers and educators.

Meanwhile, several ECCE practitioners received recognition through the ECCE Quality Awards 2026, presented at the ceremony.

The Quality TASKA Award 2026 was received by SeDidik Kuching Zone Operations Manager Awang Kederi Awang Mahdar and Head Educator of SeDidik Baitul Makmur 2 Workplace TASKA, Kuching, Dayang Hamimah Awang Hamdan.

The Quality TADIKA Award 2026 was presented to TADIKA Bodhi Principal Catherine Chai Fui Choo and TADIKA Bodhi Supervisor Kho Kui Ching, while the IPAKK Special Award 2026 was received by Rosni Salleh and Cathrine Sebarang.

Also receiving recognition were Nur Hafizah for the Inclusive Teacher Award - SeDidik, Jong Suk Ying for the Inclusive Teacher Award - Private Kindergarten, and Alandra Flora Isa for the Inclusive Master Trainer Award.

Also present were Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Sarawak Deputy Minister for Early Childhood Development Datuk Rosey Yunus, and Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuching, Raden Sigit Witjaksono. -UKASnews

Prepared by: Ezzah Syafiqah
Photos: Ezzah Syafiqah
Translator: Uilson Ng