Liberalise state’s education system, urges opposition leaders (copycat)

Liberalise state’s education system, urges opposition leaders

KUCHING: State opposition leaders hope for liberalisation of the education system in Sarawak in order to produce graduates who can compete globally.

State PKR vice chairman See Chee How hoped Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem would be more farsighted than just to revert to teaching Mathematics and Science in English.

He opined Adenan should liberalise the state’s education system by also granting support to Chinese and English medium schools as both languages are lingua franca in the global economy.

“We must liberalise our education and learning institutions by allowing all schools of other mediums of instructions to co-exist with the national schools, giving them all the necessary support from the state.

“The liberation of the education system and institutions will produce future generations who can compete with others globally, to bring Sarawak ahead of other developed nations for the benefit of the state and people.

“This should be the purpose of regaining the state’s autonomy in education, not just teaching of Mathematics and Science in English,” said See, who is also Batu Lintang assemblyman.

Meanwhile, state DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen proposed that Adenan start state-owned private schools to kick-off the new education system while still negotiating with the federal government.

Chong, who is also Kota Sentosa assemblyman and Bandar Kuching MP, said whoever owned the funding was the one in control.

Devolution of power from federal to the state in the area of education would start first with the federal government giving funding to Sarawak directly.

“Roughly, the budget for education each year is RM40 billion. Sarawak usually takes up 10 per cent of it. The federal government should give Sarawak RM4 billion to run its own education system.”

Chong held the view that it was good for the state to enjoy autonomy in education, but giving the pace of negotiations, it could take years for the negotiation to come through.

“So, while negotiating with the federal, the state may inject RM500 million from its state budget to kick start five to 10 state-owned private schools, which were to be run like public schools but with their own syllabus.”

To show its political will, Chong said the state should also set up state-owned teachers training colleges to train the teachers.

“By the time negotiation is completed, the state will already have a complete education system, which can be extended to the whole state.”

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/10/13/liberalise-states-education-system-urges-opposition-leaders/#ixzz3oPyOdUsy

My comments:
Our CM Adenan Satem should take DAP chairman Chong's good advice on liberalisation of education in Sarawak seriously.

Time is, no doubt, running short for the BN government.  If the opposition pact wins the election, I believe, Sarawak for Sarawakians, the dream and quest of everybody with the exceptions of .... will be realised faster with less hurdles.