SIBURAN: Sarawak wants federal funds for approved school projects to be placed in a state-managed trust account to speed up implementation under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister, Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, said some school construction projects had already been approved but funds had yet to be released.
He cited the State Financial Secretary’s Office has been tasked with negotiating with the federal government on the matter.
“School infrastructure funding falls under the Finance Ministry. It is not the Ministry of Education that holds the money.
“So we want the money to be placed in a state-managed trust account so that we can proceed with the construction. Otherwise, just talking about it will not help,” he said.
He told reporters this after officiating at the Gift of STEM Education: STEM Equipment Handover Ceremony at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) St Elizabeth here earlier today (March 5).
Sagah said 15 out of the 20 demands raised by Sarawak under MA63 have been resolved, including the use of English under the Dual Language Programme (DLP) and student assessment arrangements.
He explained that the remaining five matters include the use of English at upper secondary levels as well as the posting and appointment of teachers, district education officers, headmasters and principals.
“Those two matters have already reached agreement. The remaining three issues are related to school infrastructure,” he said.
On the same note, Sagah mentioned that Design subject would soon be included in the DLP and taught to students in Forms Three, Four and Five.
He said the ministry will develop the necessary teaching materials for the subject with assistance from the Sarawak Education Department.
“The subject involves calculations and therefore is suitable to be included under the DLP,” he said.
