theborneopost.com

Stressing their role

Samuel Aubrey, reporters@theborneopost.com

Manyin (second right) hands over education incentive to Cheris Weilton, who did well in his Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) last year.

SERIAN: Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong has proposed for primary schools to be renamed as ‘sekolah utama’ (main school), to reflect their importance in the formative years of children aged seven to 12.
      According to him, the present term ‘sekolah rendah’, which translates as ‘lower school’, may indicate that such schools are ‘not so important’, which may explain why there are many dilapidated primary schools, due to lack of both attention and financial assistance.
     “If I had the power, I would change the term (‘sekolah rendah’) to ‘sekolah utama’. This is to signify its importance, so that more funds could be allocated to these schools and only teachers with better qualifications would be sent there,” he said during the annual dinner hosted by SK Krusen parent-teacher association (PTA) at Kampung Krusen Kranji on Saturday.
         Manyin, who is Tebedu assemblyman, said the English term ‘primary school’ had already indicated the school’s importance in the education and development of young children.
       He disclosed that during a recent study trip to China, he saw that the primary schools there had already emphasised moulding the children to face the challenges of the 21st century.
       He said the trend was the same in Europe, where similar importance was placed on primary schools and only teachers with Master’s degree qualification would be recruited to teach the children.
     “Maybe this is where Malaysia has not been doing it right, by not prioritising primary schools. But, we still have time to rectify this,” he pointed out.
        On a related matter, Manyin said he would not stop talking about education matters, and he would continue to advise the people especially those in the rural areas to make sure that their children do well in their studies. He pointed this out because he believed that education remained the key to break out of the poverty cycle.
         On his part, he said he would find ways to improve facilities at schools.
He also said he was aware of personal attacks made against him via social media, especially on Facebook, by those who mocked his style and approaches.
    “I think on Facebook, there could be more than 1,000 comments asking me to stop being a ‘YB’ (elected representative), saying that I could not perform my job and so on.
      “As YBs, it is normal for us to receive comments by those who think they know better. But I can tell you this – they can only make comments but they would not be able to do this job, if it were to be given to them,” he said.
        Nonetheless, Manyin was still concerned about the bad habit of many locals – those mocking and looking down on others who wanted to do something good for the community.
        Later at the dinner event, Manyin pledged a government grant of RM300,000 for upgrading and repair works on SK Krusen.
        Serian district officer Lim Hock Meng, Serian District Council deputy chairman Dr Simon Sinang Bada and Serian District Council secretary Constantine Noeb were among the guests.

My comments:

        It is definitely not the name “sekolah rendah ” that has been responsible for the poor facilities and dilapidated conditions of many rural schools in Sarawak and Sabah.  The neglect and irresponsible Sarawak and Sabah governments and so called Federal government which has never cared to fulfill their responsibilities and promises should be the focus to discuss.  What they only care is the votes for them to win in the elections.  Hence  the deplorable and appalling conditions we bear witness now is the work of irresponsible persons and abuses of so-called representatives, be they who represent Sarawak or Sabah government or so called “national assembly”.  They have fooled the rural people with empty promises which they renew every time before an election.

        It is idiotic to blame the name “sekolah rendah” to be responsible for the cause of deplorable and appalling conditions of these schools.  Are ‘sekolah menangah’ with the name which seems so much loftier any better?

        Please don’t waste any resources to change the name of ‘sekolah rentah’ to ‘sekolah utama’.  Calculate how much costs will incur for the change of the name.  Save the unnecessary waste for more constructive use for the betterment of these schools.

        Is each BN minister in each constituency  given RM5 million a year for RTP?  How much does each BN minister care to give out for repair and development?  This is the Big question that rural people should learn to ask.