RM100 per student aid a sacrifice – Pairin
TAMBUNAN: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said the government's concern for school development could be seen through the large allocation in Budget 2018 to educational institutions, with the exception of primary and secondary school fees.
Additionally, he said the financial aid of RM100 per student to alleviate the burden of parents was an act of sacrifice by the government, he said when officiating at the SM St Martin Tampasak Excellence Award Ceremony at the school hall here, yesterday.
He also said the government had allocated a substantial amount of funds to equip the school's infrastructure so that children could attend a good and comfortable learning session.
He said St Martin's School had received a lot of educational funding, with improvements in preservation and an increasingly conducive landscape.
For example, he said access centre facilities or computer labs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti), had given students the opportunity to explore information and be able to master various disciplines for knowledge enhancement.
“We need to realize the country's inspiration through the 1 Student 1 Sports policy to drive the students holistically based on the National Education Philosophy, ie physical strength, emotional stability, spiritual wholeness and intellectual maturity.
“The National Sports Day celebration on October 14 every year aims to produce healthy, active and prosperous people,” he said.
Pairin, who is also the Infrastructure Development Minister, hopes the National Sports Day will produce a healthy society free from a variety of dangerous diseases that are getting worse today.
He also congratulated the students who have received awards in curriculum, student affairs, co-curriculum, skills and graduation.
“I hope the award will be a driving force and encouragement for students to continue to create excellence in any field in life.
“It is my hope that parents and teachers join forces to ensure the success of our children in this school,” he said.
He said the presence of parents at such events proved that they had a high level of responsiveness and sensitivity towards issues involving their children.
Pairin said the sensitivity and concern would be the most important motivation for the children to work harder to achieve excellence in schools, both in academic, student affairs and cocurriculum activities.
According to the Keningau MP, the role of the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) could not be denied in helping to improve the achievement of schools in the various fields such as academic, co-curriculum, physical development and human capital.
“Parents need to be sensitive of and support the leadership of the PTA to create a solid team to face the challenges of the globalization era as this is a powerful tool for parents to discuss and provide the necessary insights for the academic excellence of children.”
According to him, the success of students will not be achieved without the hard work and commitment of administrators, teachers, parents and the student's own efforts.
Also present at the ceremony were the political secretary to the Ministry of Infrastructure Development Welfredoline Jakil, district education chief officer Haison Jahudin, school principal Jenius Rantisan, PTA chairman Oliver Olang, state and federal government officials, teachers, parents and students.