KUCHING: A total of 1,458 schools comprising 193 secondary schools and 1,265 primary schools are operating in the state this year.
State Education Department director Dr Azhar Ahmad in a press statement yesterday on the state’s schooling session said there are 214 school days for the state this year which is equal to 43 weeks.
The statement also stated that this year with additional nine classes, there are 1,497 pre-school classes established in 1,514 educational institutions in the state.
“These pre-school classes include 1,317 classes at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) and four in longhouses, 163 classes in Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (SJK), two classes in Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK), four classes in Teacher Education Institutions (IPGs), seven classes in Sekolah Agama Bantuan Kerajaan (SABK) and four classes in Sekolah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas (SKPK),” he said.
He added that the total number of children who have been approved to start their schooling in pre-schools is 22,602 children (excluding late registration).
“Meanwhile, a total of 239,671 children are expected to attend 1,265 primary schools all over the state.
“The number includes 38,832 children who have registered for entry into Primary One,” he said.
He also disclosed that a total of 187,579 students will continue their schooling this year from transition class to Form Five at 193 secondary schools.
“This number includes 42,689 Year Six students in 2018 who will continue their secondary schooling.
“This year also, a total of 2,338 special needs students (MBKs) are schooling at 122 schools in the state which offer PPKI.
“This figure shows an increase of 3.13% in MBK enrolment with an addition of four existing schools offering PPKI,” he said.
He also mentioned that a total of 1,941 special needs students are being placed at 51 secondary schools.
“This figure shows an increase of 13.24% in MBK enrolment with an addition existing school offering PPKI.
“For the four SKPK schools, there is an increase of 37.7% in student enrolment with 157 students who are visually impaired, with hearing impairment and learning problems.
“The enhancement of MBK enrolment and existing school extension which offer PPKI is in line with the Ministry of Education Malaysia (KPM’s) intention to implement the Zero Reject Policy in stages to give special needs students access to education beginning this year,” he pointed out.
Dr Azhar also said that Sarawak has 72 schools with Form Six Centres in day secondary schools (Mod 2 and Mod 3) and one Form Six Centre (Mod 1) at Saratok which offers science and social science stream.
“There are also six Sekolah Menengah Agama offering religious stream class for Mod 2 and Mod 3.
“Form Six classes have three semesters where the first semester will only start in May this year.
“Some 786,275 Form Six students will continue their second semester while 726,075 will continue with their third semester in science and social science stream and 6,200 students in religious education,” he said.
