by Marlynda Meraw and Karen Bong
KUCHING, June 22: The Sarawak government, through the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, is committed to addressing the shortage of over 2,400 school teachers, mainly in primary schools.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg noted that primary schools face a significantly higher shortage of educators compared to secondary schools.
“According to the Sarawak Education Director, there is a shortage of 2,430 teachers, with primary schools being the most affected, while secondary schools have only 153 positions left to be filled.
“We will assist the Sarawak Education Department in resolving this issue, including addressing the problem of dilapidated schools,” he said at the Sarawak Education Awards 2024 held at the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Kuching today.
In managing education in Sarawak, Abang Johari reiterated that the Sarawak government will not hesitate to implement policies that will improve the local education system for the benefit of Sarawakian children, in accordance with its rights under the constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
These policies include the use of both Bahasa Malaysia and English in teaching and learning, as stipulated under the constitution, allowing Sarawak to use two languages.
Additionally, the government also established international schools to provide children from lower-income families with access to international education.
“What we do is for the future of our children. That is why Sarawak emphasises dual language education. While other states may face challenges, our teachers have no problems because we have allocated funding to conduct the Dual Language Programme (DLP) to train and upskill teachers.
“We want to nurture children with a global competitive edge through quality education, which is why we have initiated several policies that add value to the national education policy,” he added.
Minister of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn stated that since its inception in 2020, the DLP Sarawak has been progressively implemented, reaching up to Year 5 in national primary schools by 2024.
This programme, he said, aims to enhance bilingual proficiency among students, preparing them for a globalised world where bilingual skills are an invaluable asset.
“The Ministry and Sarawak Education Department have rolled out various initiatives to support the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in English. This includes training courses for teachers and the distribution of supplementary resources.
“We are committed to continuing these efforts, ensuring comprehensive support for our teachers and students until they complete their SPM. Mastery of English alongside Bahasa Melayu will open numerous doors for our students, both in further education and in their future careers,” he highlighted.
Deputy Minister of Talent Development Datuk Francis Harden Hollis was among those present at today’s event. — DayakDaily
