‘Committee to be set up to address issues on education in Sarawak’
KUCHING: The state government and Ministry of Education ( MoE) will set up a committee to discuss and address issues on the development of education in the state.
The committee will be chaired by State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohammad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, with Ministry of Education director- general Tan Sri Khair Mohd Yusuf as co- chairman.
The announcement was made by Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, who said the committee would enable both state and federal governments to reduce red tape pertaining to education development in the state, especially its education infrastructure, facilities and amenities.
“For example, on the construction of a new school, we ( MoE) need the local authority approval and want to know how long it takes for it to be approved. This sort of matter will be brought up to the committee.”
On connectivity, Mahdzir said with advancement in technology, students are now in the ‘21st century classrooms’ and it is important for all areas namely; urban, sub- urban, rural and interior areas to have internet coverage.
However, Mahdzir questioned how and when such facilities on increasing internet bandwidth could be improved, especially in areas with the lowest frequency.
“This is an important matter in education, if we think about digital advancement by 2020, we need the whole area to have internet coverage and connectivity,” he said.
He noted that Sarawak was on the right track in terms of digital advancement, saying its Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg was keen in technology advancement.
On another matter, the minister noted that the ministry was addressing the issue of dilapidated schools, adding the measures would be implemented based on priorities submitted by the state government and state Education Department.
He added that repair works or construction of a new building would use the Integrated Building System ( IBS).
“We go on priority whether it is SJK( C) or national schools, this is an important matter in the ministry for Sarawak and other states in Malaysia. For that reason, regardless of school stream ( Chinese, Malay, Tamil), we want all of these schools to improve in all matters.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the committee would resolve matters affecting the state as well speed up the approval of certain projects pertaining to education infrastructure, facilities, amenities, funding, curriculum, programmes, and human resources (teachers).
“There should always be consultation and collaboration between the ministry and the state government. This is where the ministry and the state government have to come to a consensus in filling up the gap (to effectively solve, manage and find solution in addressing the issues regarding education),” said Fatimah, who is holding a watching brief on education matters in Sarawak.