KUCHING: About 10 matters have been agreed upon by the Federal Government in the management of education administration through the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations), Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali said, among the matters agreed were strengthening the involvement between the Sarawak State Education Department and the Sarawak Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, and the Sarawak Government's permission to employ Contract of Service Teachers subject to appointment by the Education Services Commission.

Meanwhile, implementing assessments for year six and form three students subject to conditions from the Ministry of Education Malaysia, implementing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes based on the needs of the Sarawak Government as well as the Sarawak Government's involvement in planning education development projects were also agreed upon by the Federal Government.

"Others include setting the time allocation for Islamic education that does not interfere with other subjects especially STEM, sharing information on the transfer of senior officers from the Sarawak State Education Department to the headquarters of the Ministry of Education Malaysia, channelling allocations for the Professional Development Programme, channelling expenses and managing operations to the Sarawak State Education Department and sharing education data," she said.

She said this when answering a question posed by Opar Assemblyman, Billy Sujang during the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly Sitting on Friday.

For health services, she said several working committees have been established to discuss and resolve requests submitted by the Sarawak Government.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has provided close cooperation to the Sarawak and Sabah Governments to improve the smooth running of health services, especially the improvement of the Digital License Renewal (CKAPS) work process.

"Various issues were discussed showing positive developments, including improving the standard of health facilities and dilapidated health clinics and the Sarawak Health Facilities Pilot Project," she said. -UKASnews