We don’t want to be recipients of such inconsistent policies any more’

By:
Dennis Wong

Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem says inconsistencies in the education policy have caused the state dearly over the years. - Bernama pic

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KUCHING, Nov 13, 2015:

Sarawak wants to play a bigger role in deciding on the education policy.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem said inconsistencies had caused the state dearly over the years and it was high time for the state to have a say when new policies are set.

“The flip flop policies in our education has led to poor proficiency in English. Raising Bahasa Malaysia (BM) at the expense of English rather than being proficient in both languages.”

“We don’t want to be recipient of such inconsistent policies any more, where it keeps on changing from English to BM then back to English again, so what would it be next, Tamil?” asked Adenan, referring to the inconsistency in the medium used to teach Mathematics and Science subjects in school.

The drop in English proficiency of graduates was a cause for concern in the state as it faced challenges in its industrialisation quest, he added.

 Education is one of the areas which the state wants to have control over, under the devolution of powers talk with the federal government.

Among the issues which are yet to be cleared is the state’s recognition of the Independent Chinese school qualification, the Unified Examination Certificate. 

Adenan said he would clear the confusion regarding the matter at the coming State Legislative Assembly this December.

The state had called for UEC qualifications to be recognised to address the brain drain in the state, but the Higher Education Ministry said the qualification did not fulfil the basic requirements of public university placements.

Though the state has recognised UEC in its civil service and state-owned private universities, the tussle for recognition by the federal government is still on going.

Another issue that cropped up recently in the state was when the Education Ministry appointed a Kelantanese Ustaz as a principal in SMK Paoh, a predominantly Dayak school in Sarikei.

Adenan said the state would step in if it was in its interest to do so.

“Let us study this case further before making any remarks further,” said Adenan after officiating the 2015 Sarawak Foundation Chief Minister’s Special Awards held here.