Sign language to be introduced in govt kindergartens, says minister

Sign language to be introduced in govt kindergartens, says minister

This will benefit some 38,000 students in the 1,781 unity kindergartens nationwide, according to national unity minister Halimah Sadique.

Sign language will be introduced as part of the communication in a third language initiative that includes Mandarin, Tamil, Kadazan and Iban in government-run unity kindergartens. (Bernama pic)
IPOH:
The teaching and learning of sign language will be introduced in government-operated unity kindergartens from next year, national unity minister Halimah Sadique said today.

She said it would be introduced as part of the communication in a third language initiative that includes Mandarin, Tamil, Kadazan and Iban under the Early Childhood Education Plan 2021-2030.

The teaching of the third language would be implemented in all the 1,781 unity kindergartens involving some 38,000 students nationwide, she added.

However, she said the teaching of the third language would not be included in the syllabus or as a subject at the kindergartens so as not to burden the students.

According to Halimah, the teaching of sign language for kindergarten pupils was proposed by Senator Ras Adiba Radzi during a debate in the Dewan Negara earlier this month.

She told reporters this when met after a Rukun Tetangga (KRT) Community Unity Programme in Kampung Tersusun Klebang Selatan Kinta here today.

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