By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, Jan 28: Sarawak today urged the federal government to stop the blame game and help the state repair/rebuilt its 1,020 dilapidated schools.
In making the call, Minister for Education, Science and Technological Research Datuk Sri Michael Manyin Jawong also appealed to Putrajaya to honour the RM1 billion allocation for school repairs that was approved under Budget 2018.
“Stop the blaming game and help us (Sarawak) repair those dilapidated schools in Sarawak. There are 415 critically dilapidated ones in the state,” he told a press conference after launching the ‘Empowerment and leadership workshop for primary school teachers in the state (Northern Zone)’ here today.
On Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, Manyin said his ministry was exploring ways to raise students’ mastery of these subjects.
“We will pick up some trained trainers for the purpose. We want to improve our overall performances so the students can face the challenges ahead, especially in the Industry 4.0 Revolution.
“We are at Industry 2.0, while other developing countries are at Industry 4.0, We should leapfrog to Industry 4.0. There is no choice, and to achieve this, you (teachers) have to work extra hard,” he said.
Earlier, in his speech, Manyin said school teachers played a crucial part in the development of students, especial during their formative years.
“You (teachers) are the backbone in the process, or are ‘rear movers’, for us to move forward.”
He told the 96 teachers present that a country could develop faster if it has a good education system.
“For example, Singapore, although it has limited natural resources, has been growing and developing well because of its successful education system.
“As educators, we need to prepare our children from an early stage. Times have changed tremendously, and what we had in the 60s, 70s and 80s are not the same as today’s world. We need to be multifaceted and adopt new learning methods.”
A total of 96 teachers are attending the 5-day workshop at Mega Hotel here.
The workshop is a joint collaboration between Manyin’s office, the state Education Department and Institute Aminuddin Baki (Sarawak Branch). It is meant to enhance the management and leadership skills of the participants in order to uplift the schools’ education standard and students’ academic performance.
Today’s workshop is the third in a series. The one for the Southern Zone (from Lundu to Betong) was attended by 60 participants in August last year, while the one for the Central Zone (from Saratok to Belaga) was attended by 35 participants in November 2018.
Also present at today’s launching were Miri Education officer Shirini Mastura Mohd Zulkifli, who represented Education Department director Dr Azhar Ahmad, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Research Sarawak Datuk William Patrick Nyigor, and Hairul Hamzie Baharuddin, representing the director of Institute Aminuddin Baki Sarawak. — DayakDaily
