SERIAN, Feb 22: Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong has hit out at Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng for meddling in Sarawak’s education issues.
Manyin said it was “shocking” to learn that the Finance Minister had spoken about education matters, which in the past had been taken care of by the Ministry of Education.
“It is shocking to hear that the present Finance Minister (Lim Guan Eng) is involved in education matters, particularly the centralised school.
“Education matters has all the while been taken care of by Education Ministry and Education Minister.
“Lim Guan Eng should look after the economy and bring in investors, instead of getting involve in matters related to education,” Manyin said.
He spoke to reporters on Lim’s disagreement on centralised schools being established in Sarawak, after launching ‘gotong- royong mega’ at Serian Community Park, yesterday.
Manyin stressed that he had attended several meetings with officers from Minister of Education, both under the previous Barisan Nasional and the former Minister of Education under Pakatan Harapan government Dr Maszlee Malek, together with Education officers from Sabah, who agreed and encouraged centralisation of schools.
“Lim should leave education to Education Ministry, which has several officers, who are both qualified and experienced to handle the matter,” Manyin asserted.
Citing low enrollment statistics at primary schools in the state, Manyin said having centralised schools was more critical.
According to him, there were eight schools with less than 10 pupils, 43 schools with between 11 and 20 pupils, 54 schools with 21 to 30 pupils, 196 schools having between 31 and 50 pupils, 296 schools with between 51 to 100 pupils and 54 schools having between 101 to 150 pupils.
On the RM700 million repayment to the federal government, Manyin the state government had to commit itself due to the urgency to repair dilapidated schools in the state.—DayakDaily
