See: Move to improve English proficiency must start on right footing
KUCHING: The initiative to improve the level of proficiency of the English language amongst our students should be supported by all, including all the elected representatives, said Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How.
However, See, who is state PKR vice chairman, said the initiative must be launched and start on the right footing.
“The initiative by the state Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research is positive and is most welcomed. However, the Sarawak state administration must show its sincerity to ensure the success and sustainability of this initiative,” he told a press conference here yesterday.
He was commenting on a circular dated June 15, 2017 from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research, that is presently seeking co- operation from all elected representatives to ‘adopt a school’ in their respective constituencies, as a pilot programme where teachers and students will be encouraged to communicate in English outside the classrooms.
The same circular pointed out that the initiative had been successfully implemented in two schools, SK Ba Kelalan in Lawas and SK Ulu Lubai in Limbang.
See said the lack of details and guidelines with regards to the initiative from the ministry has certainly exposed its weakness but it can be a challenge for all the elected representatives to deliberate and come up with their working plans and models which will be purposeful and cost effective.
“I am most concerned with the plea to ‘adopt- a- school’ as such practice of preferential treatment shows partiality and it may lead to all other schools within the same constituency of the elected representatives feeling slighted.
“The ministry should clarify on the duration of the pilot project and whether, in the event of the successful implementation of the initiative as a pilot project, the ministry will fund and support the working plan for all the schools within the same constituency.”
Secondly, See said it is only right for the ministry to provide special grants to all the elected representatives, whether they are from the BN or the opposition, to help fund and support this initiative.
“Each year, the opposition elected representatives are spending a significant amount of their allowance on educational assistance for schools within and outside their constituencies, without the benefits of MRP (minor rural project) grants.
“From the BN side, the fact that only the ministers and assistant ministers are making provisions for educational assistance is indication that the BN backbenchers will require additional funds and grants to support this good initiative to improve the level of proficiency of the English language amongst students in their respective constituencies.”
When asked on the number of schools in Batu Lintang constituency, See said there are currently nine primary and four secondary schools.
“I, therefore, call upon the Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and his cabinet to set aside a special grant for this constructive initiative, an equal amount of support for all the elected representatives, to ensure that they can determine and implement their working plan in all the schools within their respective constituencies.”
See said the ministry should also set a deadline to assess the various pilot programmes implemented by the elected representatives, on their suitability and successes, with a resolution to implement the various workable models in all the schools in Sarawak.
“I am certain that all the members in the Sarawak State Assembly are conscious of the importance of this initiative which is not only beneficial to the students but also for the future of Sarawak.
“However, they will be constrained by the availability of funds to support their initiatives and for an unknown duration, besides the lack of guidelines and details of this good initiative.”
Also present during the press conference were PKR Women national vice president Voon Shiak Ni as well as See’s personal assistant and PKR Stampin branch deputy youth chief Jeffery Mok.