By JAMIE LU & ARIANNA ARISSA
EDUCATION has always been fully-emphasised under Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s leadership as a way to produce competitive and knowledgeable Sarawakians who will serve and lead the country in future.
Towards this end, the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government has decided to build five international schools under Yayasan Sarawak, to allow Sarawakian children who meet the selection criteria – to have equal opportunity and access to international education.
The schools offer Form One to Form Five classes using the Cambridge syllabus where English is a medium of instruction. Bahasa Malaysia will be taught as a single subject.
The five Yayasan Sarawak International Secondary Schools are located at Petra Jaya, Semenggoh, Sibu, Miri and Bintulu, with the one in Petra Jaya the first to begin its operations this year.
For entrance to these schools, students from the B40 (lower income) group are offered full scholarships, whereas students from the M40 and T20 groups pay a minimal monthly fee.
Apart from that, Sarawak government has taken over the assets of four higher learning education institutions in the state, namely Swinburne University, Curtin University, University of Technology Sarawak and i-Cats University College and upgraded the Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (CENTEX) into a training centre.
The move is to ensure Sarawak students with excellent results in their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination – who had been rejected to pursue their tertiary education in public universities under the Ministry of Higher Education, will always have a place at the state-linked universities.
The state-linked universities are open to both Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera students who excel in their secondary school examinations. Yayasan Sarawak will provide the bursaries for those who could not afford to fund their tertiary education.
Abang Johari administration’s inclusiveness was also reflected in its continuous support to the Chinese independent schools; looking after the Chinese education in the state.
The existing Chinese private school education system, he said, also involves many non-Chinese students. Hence, it should not be neglected as it contributed to the development of the state’s human resources, especially in the context of the regional economy preceded by China’s national economy.
Meanwhile, Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian said Chinese Education in Sarawak is for all races.
He said the annual funding started by the former chief minister, the late Tan Sri Adenan Satem in 2014, where RM3 million was allocated for 14 independent Chinese secondary schools in Sarawak.
“This has been continued by our Premier (Abang Johari) with an additional RM1 million every year until it reached RM10 million last year. This year, we got another RM10 million,” he said recently.
“Our Premier also raised another RM12 million for Chinese primary schools as well,” he added.
In addition, Dr Sim said the Sarawak government recognises Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) since 2015, allowing UEC applicants to apply for emplacement in the state civil service, university and Yayasan Sarawak scholarships.
Meanwhile, president of Federation of Chinese Associations of Sarawak Datuk Richard Wee, said the Chinese community is thankful and grateful to the Sarawak government for the continuous support and assistance given to the Chinese independent schools.
The financial grant given since 2013 (under the late Adenan) from RM3 million has increased to RM10 million today; which eased the financial burden of all the Chinese independent schools in Sarawak.
“The Sarawak government has also allocated a piece of land in Samarahan for future long term development to supplement the income for all the Chinese independent schools.
“All these are greatly appreciated by the School Board and the entire Chinese community. We are grateful that our Premier shares the same values and vision of our community in the emphasis and importance of education for all Anak Sarawak,” he added.
Datuk Jonathan Chai, president of the Association of the Boards of Management of Aided Primary Schools in Kuching, Samarahan and Serian said a total allocation of RM8 million was given to 12 schools in 2020 and another 10 million was given to 16 schools last year.
“We are very grateful for the support received from our Sarawak government under the leadership of Abang Johari, especially for the annual grant provided for those SJK Chung Hua in need of extension, reconstruction and relocation from 2020.
“A sum of RM12 million was budgeted for this year and is expected to be distributed to the beneficiary schools soon,” he said, apart from the financial support, Sarawak government has also provided land for those schools which are in need of additional space for activities, extension of building or relocation, for example, SJK Chung Hua Batu 11, Matang, SJK Chung Hua Batu 4 1/2, SJK Chung Hua Batu 35, Jalan Kuching-Serian, SJK Chung Hua Tondong and SJK Chung Hua Stampin.
“We are very thankful for the far-sighted vision of our Premier who appreciated the importance of human resources and acknowledged the contributions made by the Chinese schools in the process of development,” he said.
Chai added that in Sarawak, there are over 30 per cent Bumiputera students enrolled to study in SJK Chung Hua. Hence, these schools no longer catered only for Chinese students. The Chinese primary schools are more like a community school which plays a pivotal role in enhancing national unity.
