KUCHING: The low enrolment in Sarawak rural school is in partly affected by change in demographic patterns in rural Sarawak, said Deputy Chief Minister, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr. James Jemut Masing (pic).
Masing said in the 60s and 70s the rural population was widely scattered, and Sarawak government, in its effort to spread education to rural populace had to build more schools for remote communities.
“As demographic pattern changed due to better accessibility, the remote
resettlements moved to town centres, thus depriving the rural area of
its population and the students to fill the schools.
“The federal government’s reluctance in giving the needed resources to improve
rural schools in Sarawak aggravated the situation. The government did not
feel the need, understandably, to put resources to the low enrolled
schools and the parents are reluctant to send their kids to the dilapidated schools. Thus, the situation spirals downward,” he added.
Masing asserted that the Sarawak government will bill the federal government
on the cost to improve its schools.
