Council: Federal allocation a big help for mission schools

The mission schools in Sarawak gladly appreciate the allocation given thus far, but a lot still need to be improved. Elder Ambrose Linang, SCCMS secretary

KUCHING: The Sarawak Council of Christian Mission Schools ( SCCMS) is appreciative of the allocation given by the federal government to the mission schools in Sarawak over the years.

From 2010 to 2015 a total of RM80 million has been allocated to the 130 mission schools in Sarawak which are managed by six mission authorities namely; the Anglican Church, Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference, Sarawak Iban Annual Conference, Catholic Diocese of Sibu, Catholic Diocese of Miri and Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching.

“The mission schools in Sarawak gladly appreciate the allocation given thus far, but a lot still need to be improved,” SCCMS secretary Elder Ambrose Linang told The Borneo Post yesterday.

He said mission schools in Sarawak, both secondary and primary, have benefitted from the federal government’s allocation as it has aided them in carrying out improvements on their facilities.

He added this has enabled the schools to provide a better studying and teaching environment for their students and teachers to produce students who are excellent academically and in social interactions.

“We want all mission schools regardless of locality to be the best schools and the first choice for parents to send their children for education. We also want mission schools to provide a holistic educational approach to students as well as treating each student regardless of their race and religion equally,” said Ambrose, who is also the Association of Churches Sarawak (ACS) secretary-general.

He also thanked the Ministry of Education for making it a point to meet with members of the Sarawak Council of Christian Mission Schools once or twice a year.

Ambrose also extended his thanks to the state Education Department and the District Education Offices for providing them assistance and professional advice regarding any issues that they faced.

Ambrose revealed that last year RM16.5 million had been disbursed by the federal government to 438 mission schools throughout Malaysia but many schools were yet to receive the allocation up to today.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi is optimistic that mission schools in Sarawak will receive their share of the fund.

Nanta, who was quoted by thesundaypost yesterday, said: “I am not worried if there is no allocation for mission schools like it used to be in the past because we can always appeal to the government. If our leaders make an appeal on behalf of mission schools, I am sure he ( Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) will give us as well.”

Last week MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur that the allocation of RM50 million for 834 Chinese primary schools in Malaysia under Budget 2017 would be channelled to the Ministry of Education before Jan 19.

Just before Christmas last year, the media raised the concern that Chinese primary schools had yet to receive the RM50-million allocation from Budget 2016, which was meant for maintenance works.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid responded by explaining that there was a shortage in the allocation for the schools and assured that the matter would be sorted out.