Kota samarahan: The Samarahan Community Development Department (KEMAS) will pioneer early childhood education for five- and six-year-old children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), particularly in rural areas, starting next month.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang announced that a special kindergarten under KEMAS, known as Tabika Tunas Istimewa, will begin operations in Kampung Tanjung Bundong. This initiative aims to ensure that children with ASD are not left behind in receiving education.

Rubiah emphasized the importance of early education, stating, "We are introducing this special class so that children with special needs can be educated from an early stage, as early education is crucial in helping them become independent and adapt to their environment." She further highlighted KEMAS's dedication to fostering a generation that is ethical, knowledgeable, and confident.

The establishment of Tabika Tunas comes in response to a significant increase in the enrolment of children with special needs. Rubiah noted, "This is another catalyst for change, with the introduction of the class supported by more trained and experienced teachers to work with children with special needs."

Teachers for this program undergo a comprehensive training regimen lasting three to six months. This training includes both theoretical and practical components at the KEMAS Early Childhood Education Academy in Kuantan, Pahang, and placement training at special education schools under the Education Ministry.

In addition to this initiative, Rubiah announced the future introduction of the Thalatha Tis'a tahfiz program next year at KEMAS childcare centres. This program aims to nurture Quran-literate children as young as two years old and is expected to involve about 1,000 children across 100 KEMAS childcare centres nationwide.