KUCHING: Pre-school children in Sarawak’s state-owned Sedidik kindergartens are learning basic sign language as part of efforts to promote inclusivity.

       State Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the subject was introduced this year to teach children to communicate with the deaf.

       She said this came after the deaf community indicated their aspirations for more communication and interaction with others.

       “For this to happen, normal people must be able to communicate with the deaf using sign language.

       “So we have decided to introduce basic sign language, starting with Sedidik kindergartens.

       “Through this initiative, we hope to encourage two-way conversations between the deaf and normal people,” she told a press conference after chairing a Sarawak Early Childhood Development Council meeting yesterday.

       Fatimah said the sign language classes had been well received at the Sedidik kindergartens so far.

       On a separate matter, Fatimah said they would work with the Health Department to expedite the vaccination of five- and six-year-olds in the state.

       To date, she said 10.1% of children aged five and 15.9% of those aged six had received their Covid-19 jabs.