KUCHING: The Sarawak government is committed to playing a role in supporting Chinese schools in the state as they are part of the educational landscape.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said that predominantly, Chinese schools were for the Chinese community but over the years, they have changed towards an institution serving students from all backgrounds.
“Datuk Jonathan Chai (Association of the Boards of Management of Aided Chinese Primary Schools in Kuching, Samarahan and Serian president) earlier mentioned that Chinese schools have become more like a community school, offering education to students of all races.
“But, to me, it is another sector of our policy for you to place your children to get modern and pragmatic educational facilities.
“That is the transition from a Chinese-biased school to a community-based school or a private educational institution that gives pragmatic subjects to our children.
“In essence, it (Chinese schools) are no longer very much tied to racial sentiments but rather a venue to give education to our children.
“Hence, I told Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian (Deputy Premier), the state government will become a player, a partner to these educational facilities,” he said.
He was speaking at the 40th anniversary dinner of the Association of The Boards of Management of Aided Chinese Primary Schools in Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Division at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here last night (Oct 1).
Abang Johari said that when he assumed the chief ministership, he ensured continued support for Chinese schools in the state.
“The Sarawak government has allocated RM12 million to the Chinese primary schools and RM10 million to the Chinese middle schools. We are doing this because of the future of our children,” he said.
On a related note, he said Sarawak’s priority is to provide practical and pragmatic education as part of its talent development strategy.
“As far as Sarawak is concern, our priority is to give pragmatic education to our children and it is not based on sentiment or emotion, but to build Sarawakian that has the capacity to improve themselves and contribute back to the development of our state and nation at large.
“Against that background, I have discussed with our educators that Sarawak’s policies must not be inward looking but outward looking where we want Sarawkians in particular and Malaysians in general to be global players in the midst of shift in the global economic development,” said Abang Johari.
