KUCHING (Oct 26): A meeting between officials from Sarawak and the federal government in Kuala Lumpur today has agreed in principle for Sarawak’s desire for devolution of power in critical areas of education.
The Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Sarawak (MEITD) said the meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, also agreed that for matters that are operational and administrative in nature, both the Ministry of Education (MoE) and MEITD will meet to refine the details, the statement said.
“Education director-general Datuk Pkharuddin Ghazali was tasked to initiate a discussion on legal matters pertaining to the devolution of authority for education, involving the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Sarawak Attorney-General’s Chambers,” said MEITD in a statement.
MEITD said Fadillah had directed for a committee to be set up immediately between the MoE and MEITD to share data on education in Sarawak, particularly on student dropouts and achievements.
This, it said, is in order for MEITD and the Sarawak Economic Planning Unit to assess the effectiveness of the various state-initiated intervention programmes, as well as to assist the MoE.
It added that the meeting also discussed the issue of the shortage of more than 3,000 teachers in Sarawak.
“Fadillah had instructed the Education Services Commission and MoE to urgently look into the matter and to propose solutions, including allowing interim teachers to be absorbed into the teaching profession.
“He also requested all parties to submit their detailed reports on the actions agreed within one month for it to be escalated to the main committee of the Malaysia Agreement of 1963 (MA63),” said MEITD.
The meeting was a follow-up to the previous meeting on the devolution of education to Sarawak, which was held in August 2023.
Leading the Sarawak delegation was Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, who was accompanied by his deputy ministers Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee and Datuk Francis Harden Hollis.
Others included MEITD permanent secretary Datu Azmi Bujang, Sarawak Attorney-General Datu Saferi Ali, and officials from the Sarawak Economic Planning Unit
The Sarawak delegation also met up with top officials from the Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Finance; as well as those from the Education Services Commission, Implementation and Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department, and Attorney-General Chambers.
Source : The Borneo Post