Federal Govt agrees in principle to Sarawak’s wish for devolution of power in education

KUCHING: The Federal government has agreed in principle to Sarawak’s desire for devolution of power in critical areas of education, says the Sarawak Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Ministry (MEITD).

According to the ministry’s statement on Thursday (Oct 26), Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has instructed for an immediate committee to be set up between the Education Ministry and MEITD to share data on education in Sarawak.

“The data will be particularly on student drop-out and student achievement. This is in order for MEITD and Sarawak Economic Planning Unit to assess the effectiveness of the various state-initiated intervention programmes, as well as to assist the Education Ministry.

“Its 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 Sarawak State Attorney General’s Chambers,” it said.

MEITD said the matter was discussed in a meeting chaired by Fadillah on Thursday and it was also agreed that both the Education Ministry as well the MEITD will meet to refine the details for matters which are operational and administrative in nature.

The meeting, among others, involved the delegation of MEITD, Education Ministry and the Economy, Finance and Education Service Commission Ministry (ESC) which was made as a follow-up to the previous meeting on the devolution of education to Sarawak which was held last August.

Meanwhile, MEITD said the shortage of more than 3,000 teachers in Sarawak was also discussed during the meeting.

“The Deputy Prime Minister has instructed the ESC and Education Ministry to urgently look into the matter and to propose solutions, including allowing interim teachers to be absorbed into the teaching profession,” it said.

Fadillah also requested all parties to submit detailed reports on the actions agreed within one month for it to be escalated to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 technical committee, it added. -BK