Stressing their role
Minister suggests primary schools be called ‘sekolah utama’ to reflect their importance in the formation of pupils
SERIAN: Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong has proposed for primary schools to be renamed as ‘sekolah utama’ ( main school), to ref lect their importance in the formative years of children aged seven to 12.
According to him, the present term ‘ sekolah rendah’, which translates as ‘lower school’, may indicate that such schools are ‘not so important’, which may explain why there are many dilapidated primary schools, due to lack of both attention and financial assistance.
“If I had the power, I would change the term ( ‘ sekolah rendah’) to ‘sekolah utama’. This is to signify its importance, so that more funds could be allocated to these schools and only teachers with better qualifications would be sent there,” he said during the annual dinner hosted by SK Krusen parent-teacher association ( PTA) at Kampung Krusen Kranji on Saturday.
Manyin, who i s Tebedu assemblyman, said the English term ‘primary school’ had already indicated the school’s importance in the education and development of young children.
He disclosed that during a recent study trip to China, he saw that the primary schools there had already emphasised moulding the children to face the challenges of
If I had the power, I would change the term (‘sekolah rendah’) to ‘sekolah utama’. This is to signify its importance, so that more funds could be allocated to these schools and only teachers with better qualifications would be sent there. Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong, Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research
the 21st century.
He said the trend was the same in Europe, where similar importance was placed on primary schools and only teachers with Master’s degree qualification would be recruited to teach the children.
“Maybe this is where Malaysia has not been doing it right, by not prioritising primary schools. But, we still have time to rectify this,” he pointed out.
On a related matter, Manyin said he would not stop talking about education matters, and he would continue to advise the people especially those in the rural areas to make sure that their children do well in their studies. He pointed this out because he believed that education remained the key to break out of the poverty cycle.
On his part, he said he would find ways to improve facilities at schools.
He also said he was aware of personal attacks made against him via social media, especially on Facebook, by those who mocked his style and approaches.
“I think on Facebook, there could be more than 1,000 comments asking me to stop being a ‘ YB’ ( elected representative), saying that I could not perform my job and so on.
“As YBs, it is normal for us to receive comments by those who think they know better. But I can tell you this – they can only make comments but they would not be able to do this job, if it were to be given to them,” he said.
Nonetheless, Manyin was still concerned about the bad habit of many locals – those mocking and looking down on others who wanted to do something good for the community.
Later at the dinner event, Manyin pledged a government grant of RM300,000 for upgrading and repair works on SK Krusen.
Serian district officer Lim Hock Meng, Serian District Council deputy chairman Dr Simon Sinang Bada and Serian District Council secretary Constantine Noeb were among the guests.