Devolution of education not in sight due to bureaucracy at federal level

Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee

By Lian Cheng

KUCHING, Nov 24: Despite the statement made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of “nothing more to negotiate” on the devolution of education to Sarawak, the Sarawak Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Ministry is of the view that the negotiation will not be concluded expeditiously due to bureaucracy at the federal level.

However, its Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee said his ministry will vigorously pursue the matter.

He said that based on Anwar’s address during the recent Malaysia Day celebration held in Kuching, pertaining to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), there is nothing more to negotiate but just the need to implement what has been agreed.

“My ministry has achieved some progress in our pursuit of devolution of powers to Sarawak.

“Our federal counterpart, the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE), has indicated positively to the devolution of power, especially those of an administrative nature.

“However, we have yet to receive an official response on the arrangement on how the devolution power is to be realised,” said Dr Annuar while replying to the questions raised by Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap (GPS-SUPP) during the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) today.

He said one of the contentious issues that has shown significant progress is the commitment to address the shortage of teachers in Sarawak.

Based on a joint meeting held in Kuching recently between his Ministry, MOE and Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Pendidikan (SPP), he said both parties, MOE and SPP, are committed to resolving the issue by the second half of 2024.

“Another progress worth mentioning is the approval of State-funded projects delegated to the Director of Education Sarawak. However, we are now awaiting the delegation of power to take effect.”

On the question on recruitment of teachers, Dr Annuar said in addition to the normal recruitment of teachers from graduates of Institutes of Teacher Education (IPG) and education graduates from local universities, MOE and SPP will offer graduates with relevant qualifications, Contract of Service (CoS) to be deployed to the various schools.

“These approaches will broaden the pool of teachers, especially Sarawakians. Teachers employed under CoS will be required to undertake a Diploma in Education, a prerequisite to becoming qualified teachers.

“My Ministry will be actively involved in promoting the exercise among potential candidates from the respective areas,” said Dr Annuar. — DayakDaily