KUCHING: Sarawak should be given autonomy in education so that it can plan and develop its schools and education system to best suit the state’s needs.
Meradong assemblyman Datuk Ding Kuong Hing said while he agreed with Sarawak Assistant Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee that the federal Education ministry should not grant funds to rural schools based on the student numbers, it was also time that education autonomy be granted to the state.
“Very often the federal Education ministry tends to overlook, knowingly or unknowingly, the geographical features that have hampered us severely as far as infrastructure, utilities and logistics are concerned,” he told New Sarawak Tribune on Sunday (July 18).
The Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Central Education Bureau chairman said with education autonomy, the state could give out balanced development budget to ensure rural schools could catch up with the urban schools.
At the same time, the issue of dilapidated schools throughout the state could also be resolved.
