KUCHING: Delay in the approval of projects for schools funded by the Sarawak government will now be a thing of the past.
The Ministry for Education, Innovation, and Talent Development in a statement Thursday (Feb 22), said the Ministry of Education (MoE) has delegated the authority to the Director of the Education Department Sarawak (JPNS) to approve projects funded by the Sarawak government.
“Authority is also given to the Director for other projects not funded by the Sarawak government but with prior concurrence by the state ministry.
“This is considered a major step forward by MoE as a result of several discussions between the ministry and MoE on the subject of MA63, particularly Paragraph 17 of the IGC Report 1962,” it said.
The ministry said that all this time, authority to approve projects, even though funded by the Sarawak government, lies with MoE in Putrajaya and has caused delays in the approval process and hence the implementation of the projects.
“Projects under the Rural Transformation Programme (RTP), Minor Rural Project (MRP), and other minor projects approved by the local people’s representatives (ADUNs) were delayed, much to the disappointment not only of the ADUNs but also of the beneficiaries of the projects, in this case, students, parents and teachers.
“ADUNs are well-known for providing assistance through their annual RTP and MRP allocations to schools and other educational institutions. With this delegation of authority, delays in the approval of projects will be a thing of the past,” they said.
The document delegating the authority to JPNS Director Datuk Dr Azhar Ahmad was handed over by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and witnessed by state Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah.
Fadhlina was in Kuching to co-chair the Joint Action Committee for Education Development with Sagah.
The Joint Action Committee is to deliberate matters under MA63, in particular, Paragraph 17 of the IGC Report 1962 and other matters and issues on education in Sarawak.
“The state ministry has put forth several matters under Para 17 of the IGC Report and has attained considerable success. Other matters require further deliberations not only with MoE but other federal authorities,” it said.
Also present were deputy minister Datuk Dr. Annuar Rapa’ee and MoE Secretary-General Datuk Indera Nik Nasarudin Mohd Zawawi.
