MUKAH: The Ministry of Education Malaysia MOE has been urged to review its annual school allocations for Sarawak, with concerns raised over insufficient funding, particularly for student participation in competitions beyond district or state borders.
Tellian assemblyman Royston Valentine said the current allocation was inadequate, especially for covering travel and logistics when students were selected to represent their schools outside their home districts.
“We know that Sarawak is a vast state and travelling between divisions or districts takes a significant amount of time and cost.
“This issue must be taken seriously by the MOE to support the development of co-curricular activities across Sarawak,” he said.
Royston made these remarks when officiating at the Education Bureau Appreciation and Awards Ceremony at the Kingwood Hotel in Mukah on Friday.
He further explained that the ministry should consider the distances when determining allocations as teachers were often forced to pay out of their own pockets to ensure their students could compete at the higher levels.
“Although education falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal government, the Sarawak government remains committed and continues to prioritise education in the state.
“Evidence of this includes various state-led education initiatives such as free education beginning in 2026, pocket money assistance and the Sarawak Graduates Return Initiative i-GPS among others.
“Therefore, students must seize these opportunities for a brighter future, and one day give back to their communities once they have succeeded,” he said.
At the awards ceremony, Royston, who also chairs the Mukah Education Bureau, revealed that a total of RM33,450 was allocated as excellence incentives for 175 outstanding students and teachers from schools in the Mukah district.
The incentives recognised achievements in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia SPM and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia STPM examinations.
The schools involved were SMK Three Rivers, SMK Mukah, SMK Saint Patrick and MRSM Mukah.
Royston also encouraged students to continue excelling in their chosen fields while appreciating the dedication and guidance of their teachers.
He added that aside from academic achievements, skills-based knowledge was increasingly vital in today’s job market.
