The Community Development Department (Kemas) plans to increase the number of classes to offer early childhood education classes in 53 existing campuses from March next year, quoted by Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Deputy Prime Minister. Ahmad Zahid, also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said that the implementation would cost RM3.1 million per year. This covers salaries, utilities, per capita grants, and supplementary food assistance. The expansion will provide access to quality education for over 1,300 children by adding more classes to existing premises that are already in high demand.
Concluding the debate on the Supply Bill 2024 for his ministry in the Dewan Negara, Ahmad Zahid mentioned that the government has decided to reduce the financial burden on parents associated with preschool education. He also announced that the government has approved the construction of 10 new Kemas early childhood education centres for 2024, which will cost RM30.7 million.
Ahmad Zahid has stated that there are 10,693 kindergartens and 563 childcare centres under Kemas across the country. These centres offer education to over 228,000 children aged between two to six years and engage 12,160 teaching staff. Additionally, the deputy prime minister has announced that new appointments for the Federal Village Development and Security Committee (JPKKP) will be made in January for the states that are not aligned with the federal government.
According to Ahmad Zahid, the Cabinet ministers agreed to implement the JPKKP in all states except for Sarawak. However, Sarawak will continue to use JKKK as per the agreement with the federal government. Although the implementation of JKKK in Sarawak is under the control of the federal government, it will be done through the state government as the Appointing Authority (PBM).
