Ministry seeks to increase funds for Chinese schools in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Education Ministry is considering increasing allocations for Chinese schools in the state, said Deputy Chief Minister Christina Liew.

Liew said she had already raised the matter with state Education and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob.

“It is still subject to the Cabinet’s approval but I have appealed to Dr Yusof to standardise the (financial) allocation to schools.

“We agreed that the allocation of funds to assist Chinese, English and Malaymedium schools should be equal,” she said.

This would see Chinesemedium schools in Sabah getting more financial aid compared to previously, Liew said.

On a separate matter, she said the state government would not proceed with the previous Barisan Nasional government’s plans to convert two teacher training institutes (IPG) in Tawau and Keningau respectively into vocational and polytechnic training centres.

Liew said both she and Dr Yusof had agreed that the two institutions should be maintained as IPGs.

“The facilities need to be im proved but they will not be closed down and converted into polytechnic schools.

“We can find different places to set up the polytechnic schools.

“It is not necessary to close down the IPGs for that purpose,” she told reporters after attending the Hari Raya open house of Sabah Yang diPertua Negri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and his wife Toh Puan Nor lidah R.M. Jasni at Istana Negri yesterday.

Also present at the event were Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and his wife Datin Seri Shuryani Shuaib.

His deputies Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau and Datuk Jaujan Sambakong were also present, along with several state Cabinet ministers.