KUALA LUMPUR: The Sarawak government views education as a crucial priority.
Deputy Prime Minister, Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof, said that the state government has established the Sarawak Ministry of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development (MEITD) to serve as an intermediary with the Malaysian Ministry of Education (KPM) in addressing educational issues in Sarawak.
"At the state level, the Sarawak Government has established MEITD to address educational issues in Sarawak. One of the major challenges that need to be jointly addressed by the Federal Government and the Sarawak Government in the current education sector is the shortage of teachers and facilities issues such as dilapidated schools.
"Therefore, education poses a significant challenge for us and is made a crucial agenda in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). Empowering the administration of the education sector is a primary focus with the Federal Government through the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Secretariat," he said.
He made these remarks during a Hari Raya Aidilfitri gathering at a prominent hotel here on Thursday.
Dato Sri Fadillah added that Sabah and Sarawak face challenges in the education sector because planning involving the sector is carried out in Putrajaya, especially issues related to teacher recruitment or placement in Sarawak.
"Most of these vacancies are filled by candidates who are unwilling to serve in Sarawak due to concerns about remote areas, resulting in a lack of officers to serve in Sarawak.
"In this regard, with the administrative power in education given to us, we can ensure that these vacant positions are filled and candidates can serve in Sarawak," he added.
It is understood that 110 Sarawak students under the Sarawak Foundation Student Exchange Programme also attended the event.
Meanwhile, the Sarawak Foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Malaysian Ministry of Education and MLNG Petronas to further strengthen the Sarawak Foundation Student Exchange Programme.
Also present were the Minister of Education, Fadhlina Sidek, Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department (Corporate Affairs, Information & UKAS), Datuk Abdullah Saidol, and the Director of the Sarawak Foundation, Mersal Abang Rosli. -UKASnews
