Kota kinabalu: The Community Development Department (KEMAS) Sabah will expand its Tabika Smart Classroom and Tabika Tunas Istimewa programme for children with autism to every district in the state next year. Its director Ahmad Fakhrul Azman Muhammad Radzi stated that the initiative aims to enhance early childhood education in Sabah to align with current developments, especially to meet the needs of Generation Alpha and children with autism.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Tabika Smart Classroom programme was introduced to tailor preschool education to Generation Alpha, who have been exposed to technology from an early age. This involves providing suitable devices such as tablets and smart TVs. Ahmad Fakhrul Azman expressed that children of this generation are familiar with technology, having been born into a rapidly evolving gadget-driven world. The goal is not only for them to be users of gadgets but also to benefit from the technological advantages and capabilities.
This year, the Tabika Smart Classroom programme is being implemented on a pilot basis, with one smart classroom in each district. This is set to expand statewide next year. Regarding the Tabika Tunas Istimewa programme, Ahmad Fakhrul Azman highlighted its focus on children with mild autism. It was initially launched on a pilot basis at a kindergarten in Papar, and plans are in place to extend the programme to every district next year. Twenty more kindergartens are planned, bringing the total number of Tabika Tunas Istimewa centres in Sabah to 21.
The expansion aims to alleviate the burden on families with autistic children in obtaining appropriate education and support, considering the high cost of related treatment and therapy. For instance, speech therapy alone can cost RM100 an hour to aid children with autism in developing their speech, and other treatments and therapies involve significant costs. Ahmad Fakhrul Azman mentioned that they would assess feedback progressively as the programme is still at the pilot stage.
He further stated that if the Tabika Tunas Istimewa programme proves successful and receives a positive response from parents and the community, KEMAS Sabah would determine the next steps for specialised preschool education for autistic children in the state.