‘Education a key agenda in Sarawak’s development’
SIBU: Education is one of the most important agenda for Sarawak government to achieve a prosperous state, says Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government Michael Tiang.
Speaking at the opening of ‘Early Learning and Development Conference’ in Methodist Pilley Institute (MPI) here on Saturday, he said the state had proper policies implemented for education to avoid brain drain.
He pointed out that Sarawak had many young talents that could contribute to the state’s economy.
“Efforts to improve and provide better education, even at the early child development (level), are an investment, not a cost. The Sarawak government realises this,” he pointed out.
He said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg had state education as the key that would enable Sarawak to achieve a prosperous future as the state progressed into the new digital economy.
He added the state was setting up a sovereign wealth fund to strengthen the state’s financial sustainability.
“Sarawak aims to provide free tertiary education for Sarawakians via the sovereign wealth fund once the state is able to generate sufficient revenues in the future.
“Various initiatives have been implemented to help the children reach their full potential, which includes the implementation of teaching Science and Mathematics in English,” he added.
Tiang said the government had spent more than RM13 million since 2019 to ensure the success of this programme, and the Premier has announced that the state government would allocate RM1 million for this programme in 2023.
In addition, the state is also allocating RM3 million for the up-skilling of teachers and school leaders next year, he pointed out.
Other initiatives include an allocation of RM15 million annual grant to 3,000 Early Childhood Care Institutions which would benefit more than 80,000 children in Sarawak, RM13.7 million for scholarships and study loans,RM10 million for the free tuition programme and RM1.95 million for One Stop Early Intervention Centre (OSEIC) to ensure children with disabilities are given equal access to education.
“Our dream for the future is to be sure that no Sarawakian can say that they did not go to school because they could not afford it, or they have to seek education elsewhere due to lack of quality and lack of opportunities in education here.
“The Sarawak government has a great plan to ensure that not one child is left behind in education.”
In this regard, Tiang called upon the educators who shared such dream to work towards this common goal.
“There is no easy way to achieve this goal, but with common mission and joint effort, we are never too far behind to achieve it,” he said.
On the conference, Tiang said he hoped the delegates could brainstorm on better ways in the future to ensure that children could continue their learning in the midst of crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said Covid-19 had resulted in actual learning losses due to school closures.
The two-day conference was jointly held by MPI, the board of Education of Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference, and Sibu, Kapit, Sarikei and Kapit Kindergarten Teachers Associations.
As many as 310 educators joined the conference.
Also present at the event were president of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Council Malaysia Datin Professor Dr Mariani Mohd Noh, MPI principal Hii King Kai and vice chairman of National Early Childhood Intervention Council Dr Toh Teck Hock.