80 HGS students provide education for detainees in Puncak Borneo Prison

MINISTER Of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing, Datuk Hajjah Fatimah Abdullah (third left) in a group photo with (from left) Supervisor of Henry Gurney School Puncak Borneo Gloria Nyaun, Director of Prisons Sarawak, Deputy Commissioner Ajidin Haji Salleh, Director of Prisons Puncak Borneo Assistant Deputy Commissioner Wallace Nawon and others during courtesy call from Directory of Prisons Sarawak at Baitulmakmur, Petra Jaya, Kuching. PHOTO: MOHD ALIF NONI

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KUCHING: The Henry Gurney School (HGS) now has a total of 80 students, providing education for those detained in the Puncak Borneo Prison.

50 were transferred from the Keningau Henry Gurney School in Sabah while 34 were newly enrolled from the prison.

Speaking at a press conference was the Minister of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing, Datuk Fatimah Abdullah who said that this is yet another form of education rights to all Malaysians.

“Our mission is simple, for rehabilitation and recovery. Even in prison, they can still study for chance to start a new life once they are released.

“Plus, those detained in Puncak Borneo prison will not have their misconduct recorded under their name, enabling more job opportunities in the future,” said Fatimah.

The press conference was held after she received a courtesy call from the Director of State Prison Department, Deputy Commissioner Ajidin Salleh, Director of Puncak Borneo Prison, Wallace Nawon and the school’s supervisor, Gloria Nyaun at her office at Baitulmakmur.

She continued that by transferring Sarawakians from the Keningau prison, family members would be able to visit them more often, especially during auspicious days.

This year, 12 students in the school will be undertaking their SPM, 10 are taking Pre-SPM and another 20 are undertaking the 3M programme (reading, calculating and writing).

“I would also like to add that many of them are also trained to produce items such as hand-woven Batik Sarawak, frozen foods such as Curry Puff and many more,” said Fatimah.

The Puncak Borneo Henry Gurney School initiated its operations on 15 April last year.

Those who are studying there are sentenced under the juvenile court and would be released when they reach 21 years old.

Currently there are a total of 10 skilled teachers who give their full commitment in educating those who are detained in the prison.