KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 — The NADI School Uniform initiative not only helps families obtain school supplies at more affordable prices, but also creates income opportunities for alumni of the NADI Mahir Jahit sewing skills programme.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the initiative grew out of the NADI Mahir Jahit programme offered under the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI), which gives participants, including housewives and single mothers, the opportunity to learn sewing skills and use them to generate income for their families.
"Over 2,000 participants have joined the NADI Mahir Jahit programme, and it is now entering its fourth intake. It is from this programme that the NADI School Uniform initiative was born.
"Alumni who already possess these skills are given the opportunity to produce school attire to be sold at more affordable prices to the community. This is truly an initiative that I support," she said in a Facebook post today.
Through its Lifelong Learning pillar, NADI provides a platform for underprivileged and marginalised groups to access education and skills training through programmes including NADI TINYTECHIE, NURTURE EKELAS Students, NADI E-Sports, NADI Rakyat Tuition, NADI Cybersecurity, NADI Skills and the NADI AI Programme.
NADI Skills covers areas including sewing, cooking, gadget repair, photography and videography, smart agriculture and ICT literacy.
Fadhlina said NADI also offers families in need the option of paying for school uniforms in instalments without interest or additional charges.
She stressed that the facility is neither a loan nor a "Pay Later" scheme, but an option to help parents manage their expenses, particularly when preparing school supplies for several children at the same time.
Elaborating, Fadhlina said the initiative's greatest value lies not merely in providing another way to buy school uniforms, but in creating opportunities by equipping people with skills and giving them the space to put those skills to use.
"A woman learns to sew. Her skill becomes a source of income. Her handiwork, in turn, helps other families save money.
"I believe a good programme does not just provide assistance for today. It provides skills so that a person has more choices for tomorrow. One skill. Two families benefit," she said.
