Education important asset in implementing country’s development – CM
KOTA KINABALU: Education, said Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman, is an important asset in the implementation of a country’s development.
“If we ignore the importance of education, we are not only hindering the country’s achievements, we are also blocking the needs of the people personally or as a community,” he said.
Musa, in his speech at the launching of the state-level ‘Jelajah Pendidikan Bumiputera’ program in Manggatal yesterday, said that the importance placed on education is reflected in the huge allocations given by the government without looking at the risks ahead.
This proves that the government takes seriously the output of human interest that can bring about huge impact to the development of the country in line with the National Transformation 2050 (TN50) which is being done to strengthen the country’s education system at the higher education level and therefore to uphold its leadership’s aspiration to produce citizens that are competitive and hardworking all the way to the global level, he said.
“This is in line with the country’s education philosophy to produce knowledgeable, responsible and capable citizens who can achieve self prosperity and contribute to the harmony as well as prosperity of the community.
“I wish to congratulate Yayasan Destini Anak Bangsa (YDAB), Gerakan Pendidikan Bumiputera Malaysia (GPBM) with the collaboration of Gerakan Belia 4B Malaysia, as well as Rakan Strategik dan Universiti Awam, Kementerian dan Agensi Jelajah Pendidikan for forming a cooperation to translate the objectives and aspirations of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“They have gone all over the country to seek out Bumiputera children and those from the less fortunate families, especially in the rural areas as well as the urban poor, to help those who were not able to pursue higher education,” said Musa.
According to him, Jelajah Pendidikan Bumiputera had been conducted in Sabah in 2016 and 2017.
Musa said more than 60,000 Bumiputera children including from the Orang Asli community, managed to pursue higher education through the program and he would like to see education being championed for all including down to the grassroots level so that all Malaysians can be part of the country’s education development.
This program provides those who have missed the boat with a second chance to be able to continue their studies at 37 Institusi Rakan Strategik Pendidikan, including public universities that are offering 65,000 places this year.
“It is my hope that this noble intention to see our children achieve their dreams to pursue higher education manifested in this program as education is an important medium to ensure the progress of a country.
“The government and Barisan Nasional (BN) will always put the highest and the best aspirations for the youths in the country. Our children have the right to receive the best education they can get for the sake of development and continuity of their life,” he said in his speech that was delivered by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan.
Abdul Rahman, when met later, said that with the program, it is not the students seeking out the universities but the other way round especially for those in the rural areas.
“We give commitment to those here today that they will be able to get a place in IPTA and we will give grant of RM1,500 to them when they are successful in getting a place in a public higher learning institute,” he said, adding that for BN, the education agenda is a major one under Najib’s administration.
“When it comes to education, he (Najib) is very committed. He spent a lot of money on education, in fact education is one of the biggest items on our national budget. That commitment is translated into a very wonderful and successful program by Yayasan on giving second or third chance to students in rural areas to be part of a developing country,” said Abdul Rahman.