GOVT COMMITTED IN PROVIDING ADEQUATE PRESCHOOLS

BINTULU (Sarawak, Malaysia) April 9 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister
Muhyiddin Yassin said Saturday the government is committed towards providing
adequate preschool facilities for children throughout the country within the
next two years.

Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, said so far the government
had met about 72 per cent of the total requirements for preschools and the
facilities would be increased in stages.

"It will be raised to almost 82 per cent next year, and would be further
increased to reach 100 per cent so that we can provide such facilities to our
children who are attending preschool," he said before launching the 12 Sedidik
SEDC pre-school centres, near here today.

At the function, he presented a RM5.2 million (US$1.73 million) grant under
the National Key Result Areas (NKRA) to the State Economic Development
Corporation (SEDC) to develop 30 preschools throughout the east Malaysian state
of Sarawak.

He also handed over key replicas to the representatives of 12 preschools
which were recently completed under the Education Ministry's programme for
Sendidik and the SEDC.

Muhyiddin pointed out that Prime Minister Najib Razak had personally
stressed the importance of preschool education and he had in fact received
instruction to build as many preschools in the country as possible.

However, government efforts to raise the standard of living of the people
through education would not be successful without the efforts of parents and
society.

"What is important is the role of the parents. Government efforts will
certainly help, but the role of the parents in contributing together in the
education of their children is more important, and this is to ensure that their
future is secured," he added.