Sarawak to have more control over critical areas of education
Published on: Friday, October 27, 2023
By: Bernama
Data on education in Sarawak will be shared between the education and state ministries. (Bernama pic)
SEPANG: The federal government has agreed in principle to Sarawak’s desire for devolution of power in critical areas of education, says the state education, innovation and talent development ministry.
The state ministry said deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof has instructed that a committee be set up immediately, with representatives from the education ministry and the state ministry, to share data on education in Sarawak.
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“The data will particularly be on student dropouts and students’ achievements,” it said in a statement.
“This is in order for the state ministry and the Sarawak Economic Planning Unit to assess the effectiveness of the various state-initiated intervention programmes as well as to assist the federal ministry.
“Education director-general Pkharuddin Ghazali has been tasked with initiating a discussion on legal matters regarding the devolution of authority for education.
“This will also involve the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Sarawak Attorney-General’s Chambers.”
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The state ministry said the matter was discussed during a meeting chaired by Fadillah earlier today.
It was also agreed that both the federal and state ministries would meet to refine the details of matters that are operational and administrative in nature.
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The meeting also involved the economy and finance ministries as well as the Education Services Commission.
This was a follow-up to the previous meeting on devolution of education powers to Sarawak held in August.
The shortage of more than 3,000 teachers in Sarawak was also discussed at the meeting.
Fadillah wanted the education ministry to propose urgent solutions, including allowing temporary teachers to be absorbed into the teaching profession.
He also requested all parties to submit detailed reports on the actions agreed upon within one month for the attention of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 technical committee.
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