Strong family, school collaboration key to holistic child development, says minister
KUCHING (July 14): Holistic development in children begins with stronger collaboration between families, schools, and communities, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
Nancy emphasised that the success of children's education hinges on a supportive ecosystem involving parents, educators, and society at large.
'I believe a strong family is the foundation of educational success, and therefore, I would like to propose closer collaboration between the Kuching District Education Office and my ministry to implement family and parenting support programmes in schools,' she said.
She made these remarks during the 2024 Kuching District Education Office Excellent Service Awards (APC) ceremony, held at Dewan Hikmah in Petra Jaya here yesterday.
She said such initiatives should be a joint effort between the Ministry of Education and her ministry, to ensure children are nurtured in an environment that promotes their all-round development.
Nancy highlighted that shaping future generations requires shared responsibility among teachers, parents, and the community leaders.
'It is our collective duty to nurture our children, instilling cultural, religious, and national values.
'This responsibility should not rest solely on teachers. Strong connections between educators and the wider community are vital,' she stressed.
'Meaningful engagement allows us to listen to feedback from community leaders and parent-teacher associations, giving them space to share their observations — not only from their homes but also from their villages and surroundings,' she added.
Nancy reaffirmed her ministry's commitment to supporting families through platforms such as the One-Stop Social Support Centre (PSSS), which she noted has become increasingly relevant and widely accepted.
She also shared efforts in her Santubong parliamentary constituency, where her service centre collaborates with education authorities to improve infrastructure and deliver learning support across 26 schools.
'We are intensifying efforts to support students, especially from B40 families, by providing school supplies, small scholarships, motivational programmes, and enhancing digital literacy and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) initiatives.
Nancy stressed that the objective is not only to ensure children receive a quality education, but also to prepare them to thrive in an increasingly challenging global environment.
A total of 414 recipients were honoured during the APC event, including eight PPD Kuching staff, three principals, seven headmasters, 396 teachers, and other school support staff.
Nancy concluded by urging educators to uphold a culture of excellence grounded in integrity and sincerity.
'This is the foundation of building a progressive society — one that is knowledgeable, ethical, and empathetic,' she said.
Also present were Sarawak Education Department deputy director (Learning Sector) Siti Zulaiha Ibrahim, representing Sarawak State Education Director; Kuching District Education Officer Majelan Sulong; political secretary to Santubong MP, Mohammed Kamaluddin Mohd Effendie; and various school heads and district officers. child development early children education family lead nancy shukri
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