KUCHING: Education officers state-wide have been told to be considerate towards students who wanted to celebrate local religious festivals.
Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen said the District Education Office or State Education Department should be empowered to make decisions for the schools under their jurisdiction based on the local context and local know-how.
He said this included allowing students in boarding schools to go back to their homes for special festive seasons.
“This is in view of a reported rejection given by the State Education Department based on a circular set by the Ministry of Education not to allow Christian students from the school in Serian to go back for the Good Friday & Easter celebrations.
“As we are aware, such celebrations are important among the Christian community which may be the majority in the area. Thus they should be allowed and given special considerations to be with their families during this Holy Week,” he said in a statement today.
He further said that the State Education Department should be aware of such needs and local sensitivities based on the feedback and input from the district education office.
“This is in line with our call to empower and restore greater autonomy in decision-making, especially in education here in Sarawak without being bound by certain federal-circular which may not be fully practical based on the local context.
“That is why i hope such occurrence will not happen again and from next year onwards, the students should be allowed to celebrate important cultural and religious celebrations with their families and communities,” he added.
