By Ashley Sim and Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, Oct 2: Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has announced that the State government will fully fund the construction of 45 laboratories in each of the 45 districts across Sarawak in an effort to enhance student proficiency in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education.
The Premier emphasised that the laboratory will be shared by every school in each respective district so that the students may acquire knowledge in fields such as Science, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
“I have decided to build a laboratory in a district that will be shared by all of the schools in that district.
“This will incur a significant expense. There are a total of 45 districts in Sarawak, each of which will have its own laboratory. And the laboratories will be fully financed by the State government,” he said during the launching ceremony for the new Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Maludam building in Betong which was streamed live via Sarawak Public Communication Unit’s (Ukas) YouTube channel today.
Abang Johari explained that Sarawak’s ventures into green hydrogen production, and carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) are part of Sarawak’s new economy, and that students must learn about this through the study of subjects such as Biology.
“Why carbon is absorbed by the trees, how they release oxygen, and why the world has become hotter now due to climate change, this is the basis of Biology. Therefore, all of this information must be taught in schools to our children,” he added.
The Premier also stated that the new SK Maludam building cost approximately RM34 million and that the school is equipped with all necessary facilities for the benefit of students and teachers.
Furthermore, he reiterated that Sarawak may be able to fulfil its wish to provide free tertiary education to Sarawakians studying in any five State-owned institutions by 2026.
For the record, Sarawak owns five learning institutions so far, namely Swinburne University, Curtin University, University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), i-Cats University College and Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (Centexs).
Among those present at the ceremony were Sarawak State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki; Education, Innovation, and Talent Development (MEITD) Sarawak Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee who represented MEITD Minister Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn; Women, Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development (KPWK) Sarawak Deputy Minister Mohamad Razi Sitam; Malaysian Ministry of Education (MOE) Development Division secretary Datuk Masyati Abang Ibrahim; and Lingga assemblywoman Dayang Noorazah Awang Sohor. — DayakDaily
