By Johan Aziz
Convert IPG Keningau into pre-university campus — PBS
KENINGAU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Youth chief Datuk Jake Jikulin Nointin called on the Education Ministry through the District Education Office here to convert the Keningau Teacher Training Institute (IPG) into a pre-university campus or centre for Form Six students.
He said this was in line with the Ministry of Education’s proposal to close the IPG in stages until 2021 and convert it into a vocational college.
“If IPG is closed within the next four years it is better to turn it into a pre-university campus or Form Six Centre,” he said when officiating at the T6 Friendly Night in conjunction with the State-level Form Six Special Carnival held at Datuk Seri Panglima Lee Sen SM Ken Hwa hall here on Wednesday.
According to him, many leaders and people in the interior were on the defensive and appealing to the government to maintain IPG as it had become a necessity to train future teachers in rural areas.
He said most trained teachers from IPG had served and taught in rural schools in interior area.
“If the government does not maintain the IPG that contributes to the teaching profession of the rural people, it is better to convert it into a pre-university campus or Form Six Centre for the Interior.
“I believe many secondary schools from the interior like Keningau, Tambunan, Nabawan and Tenom accept new Form Six students every year and believe the existence of a Form Six Centre, will be a relief to the management of secondary schools that do not have Form Six classes,” he said.
In an effort to provide better education in the Interior, Jake said he still had high expectations as rural students deserved to be provided with educational infrastructure.
Jake, who is also Liawan PBS chief, reiterated the need for a campus or centre just for Form Six students in the Interior to enable them to gain entry requirements for university studies.
Meanwhile, he said the carnival would enable students to gain experience in managing and participating in a program.
“Every Form Six student should take this opportunity because 90 per cent of the academic achievement in STPM is obtained through exams and coursework, while the students need to compete and score another 10 per cent in co-curriculum.
“I was informed by one of the carnival coordinators that a participant from SMK Putatan who had just joined the Form Six International Cross Country in Johor on Sunday with some other students went directly to Keningau to participate in this carnival. This shows that students are truly committed to achieve excellence,” he said.
Jake advised students to prepare mentally and physically in order to dare to step out after graduating from university in search of their respective careers.
He said with the experience gained through this carnival students would be able to compete for a greater challenge to create and achieve greater success.
Jake who is the national Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth vice chief, said as a youth leader he was determined to strive for the best for the people in the Interior and State.
“Education is one of the important factors that we need to focus on. Knowledgeable and skilled workers emerge from a high level of education which is an important element in moving towards a developed nation,” he said.