Committee set up to chart devt of SK Abang Ali

SIBU: A school development committee has been set up to look into the long term development of the 127-year- old SK Abang Ali here, including elevating it into a secondary school.

Speaking at the 127 th anniversary dinner of the school on Saturday, Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee had been appointed to head the committee.

Dr Annuar, who is also Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health, said the committee would be tasked to look into the development of the school in a holistic manner.

“It (Abang Ali School) must have both primary and secondary schools. I would like to see this school becoming the best school in Sibu not only in terms of having sophisticated facilities, but also excelling in academic achievements – to become an elite school in future.

“I am very thankful to our Chief Minister for appointing me to head the Abang Ali school development committee,” he told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday.

The Nangka assemblyman noted that Abang Johari had hinted that in order to have a proper school with sophisticated facilities, it might need to be relocated to a nearby location.

On this, Dr Annuar, who is advisor to SK Abang Ali Alumni Association ( Paskaa), said: “This is very important as the school has a long history of existence and contribution; having a status of a primary school may not be appropriate.”

For the time being, he said the committee would be looking into addressing the short-term needs of the school. He observed that in the last five years, the school had improved by leaps and bounds in academic performance, attributing it to the extra classes and tuition rolled out by the Education Secretariat of Nangka Service Centre for pupils sitting for UPSR.

He urged former pupils to assist their alma mater either in terms of giving ideas or financial support to upgrade the school.