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SIBU, Aug 11: The Education Ministry’s plan to set up a special school for the hardcore poor could have adverse psychological effects on the students, says Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee.
“From a personal standpoint, I’m unsure about the practical implementation of these specialised schools for underprivileged students.
“It’s questionable whether parents would want to send their children to schools that are explicitly labelled as institutions for impoverished students,” he said today.
Speaking to reporters at the Sarawak English Language Education Symposium (SELES 2023), Dr Annuar opined that this type of school would impact the students negatively, especially when it comes to their self-confidence and competitiveness.
“This approach seems less than ideal to me. Additionally, it could limit their ability to compete on a broader scale. Given that many of these children come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, it could make them more apprehensive. They truly need an improved approach to develop their potential,” he said.
Instead of setting up this school, he suggested that MOE assist these students economically such as providing them with transportation to schools and constructing additional boarding facilities to better support them.
The Nangka assemblyman said the ministry had not discussed the matter with the Sarawak government and if given the opportunity to voice his opinion, he said, “I would not agree that we should build schools for poor students in this country.”
“We should have different ways, different methods to address underprivileged students. There are many ways to help them. Not by building schools. There are already many schools, even the dilapidated schools have not been improved, but now there are special schools for them (underprivileged students)?” he said.
Dr Annuar stressed that policies or measures to help underprivileged students in the State have long been planned and implemented by the Sarawak government.
He said that the Sarawak government’s intention to establish International Schools is to accommodate or provide opportunities for high-achieving B40 students from rural areas to study in international schools.
Education Minister, Fadhlina Sidek, had last Sunday said a pilot project for special schools for the poorest families in the country would be set up and operational as early as next year. — DayakDaily
