By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Aug 9: The organisation of various education programmes by experts is proof that the Sarawak education system is moving forward and is not stagnant, says Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn.
He was commenting on Federal Education Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin yesterday (Aug 8) acknowledging that the Malaysian education system has been stagnant due to unwillingness to make changes, leaving other countries to surpass Malaysia in terms of education.
“I don’t think we (Sarawak education system) are stagnant. We are actually moving forward.
“Arranging (educational) programmes is not something that will not bear fruit. Arranging this programme is also done by people with expertise and they are the ones who know the needs of the future.
“So we are actually not stagnant, as far as Sarawak is concerned,” he told reporters at a press conference after launching ‘Dual Language Programme (DLP) Sarawak 2022: Year 3 Teachers’ held at Grand Continental Hotel Kuching today.
According to media reports, Dr Radzi highlighted that during the push for abolishment of the UPSR and PT3 national exams, some teachers and other stakeholders had opposed the move saying that the schools were ill-prepared for in-class and school-based assessments.
However, he also noted in-class and school-based assessments have been introduced since 2011 and yet many (teachers and stakeholders) said that they are not ready.
At the event, Sagah disclosed that DLP Sarawak has been introduced since 2019 by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and MEITD has led the programme by setting a target that all national primary schools in the State will be given exposure and training.
Since 2019, Mathematics and Science Year 1 and 2 subject teachers have undergone DLP exposure.
This year, Institute of Teacher Education (ITE) Batu Lintang Campus has been entrusted with allocation to fund the DLP training programmes for the upskilling of Year 3 teachers, with assistance from ITE Rajang Campus and ITE Sarawak.
The DLP Sarawak course will be conducted in six zones, namely Kuching, Sri Aman, Mukah, Sibu, Bintulu and Limbang.
Also present were Deputy Minister for Talent Development Datuk Francis Harden Hollis; MEITD permanent secretary Datu Kameri Affandi; Sarawak Education Department deputy director (Learning Sector) Dr Les Met; and ITE Batu Lintang Campus director Dr Lambat Lindong. — DayakDaily
