Building of five residential international schools
KUCHING: Sarawak government is currently in the midst of applying for licences for the building of five residential international schools through a company named Sanjung Sdn Bhd, which is fully owned by Yayasan Sarawak.
The identified locations for the schools are in Miri, Bintulu, Sibu, Kota Samarahan (next to Medical Heart Centre) and Mile 12 (near the Centre for Modern Management, Penrissen Road).
Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong stated that the five sites had been approved by the State Cabinet and Sarawak Planning Authority (SPA).
“There are a lot of things required in the process and the company which has been set up must have an initial capital of RM1 million.
“The next steps are appointing the chief executive officer (CEO) of the company and transferring the five sites to the company which will own the five schools. We are in the process of doing that.
“We expect the construction of the schools to start next year under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP),” he said.
He told reporters this after attending the Memoranda of Agreement Ceremony between Sarawak Research and Development Council (RDC) and its partners namely, Curtin Biovalley Sdn Bhd (CBV) and Cambridge Academy of Therapeutic Sciences (CATS) at Pullman Hotel here yesterday.
The total cost of construction plus the equipment are estimated to be about RM60 million per school.
Manyin added that the five international schools would be built at the same time but their operations would not be done simultaneously.
The first school at Mile 12 is expected to begin operation by 2021, with the first batch of 100 students occupying four classes. When all five schools are fully operational, the total of the first intake would be 500 students.
“We will only have one school operating first, otherwise it will be a waste of money to have five schools at the same time as we have to pay five principals. So, we only have one school operating for the first year, maybe two schools in the second year and three schools for the third year,” he said.
Manyin added that the schools would have hostels to cater for the bright students from rural areas.
The project is the brainchild of the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to produce technocrats among the less fortunate, especially in the lower income (B40) group irrespective of race and religion.
Manyin said most of the schools would be sited on state land except for the one in Miri which would be on Native Customary Rights (NCR) land.
“For the ones on state land, we won’t have to pay the premium but for the one in Miri, we will have to pay peppercorn (rent),” he said.
Asked how the international school would differ from the existing ones, Manyin said the school fees would be paid according to the students’ ability.
“The selection (of enrolment) will be done together with the headmaster of the primary schools based on UPSR results.
“However, weightage will be given to the rural students because sometimes they score 2As and it can be equivalent to the 5As achieved by students in the town due to the facilities. So, there will be a different set of criteria,” he said.
For the syllabus, his ministry has sent a delegation to discuss the matter with the Cambridge Assessment Testing Centre, United Kingdom, in February.
“The details I still do not know but we have discussed with them (Cambridge), that we are going to use IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education), which is recognised throughout the world,” said Manyin.
