Govt opens additional 35 preschool classes in Sarawak

KUCHING (Jan 12): A total of 35 new government preschool classes have opened in Sarawak for the current school session, said Sarawak State Education director Omar Mahli.

With the addition of these classes, Sarawak now has 1,552 preschool classes operating across 1,142 educational institutions.

“These preschool classes include 209 classes in national-type schools (SJKC), four classes in national secondary schools, two classes in special model schools (K–11) in Long Bedian, four classes at Teacher Education Institutes (IPG), seven classes in government-aided religious schools, and seven classes in special education national schools,” he said.

He added that the overall figure also comprises 1,319 preschool classes in national primary schools, including four classes located in longhouses.

Omar told reporters this during the Early Schooling Assistance (BAP) Handover Ceremony at SMK Petra Jaya here.

On secondary education, Omar said 190,019 students will continue their schooling from Transition Classes up to Upper 6.

“This total comprises 179,464 students in Transition Classes through Form 5 across 194 secondary schools throughout Sarawak,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said the current Form 6 enrolment stands at 10,555 students.

“Of this number, 10,107 students are in the humanities stream, while 385 students are in the science stream,” he said, noting that efforts are ongoing to increase enrolment in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) among Form 6 students.

He further explained that Form 6 education in Sarawak continues to be conducted through Form 6 Centres (PTE) in secondary schools based on three operational models.

“Model One involves Form 6 colleges. Model Two comprises 18 PTEs, each with at least 12 classes, while Model Three involves 59 PTEs that share administration with mainstream schools and have fewer than 12 classes,” he said, adding that Sarawak currently has only one Form 6 college located in Saratok.