KUCHING: Project implementation can now be expedited and streamlined with the Sarawak Education Department being empowered to approve projects directly funded by the Sarawak government.
“It will definitely expedite the process of repairing and rebuilding of schools in Sarawak as it will cut down a lot of prevailing bureaucratic hurdles which had delayed the implementation and execution of a lot of school projects in Sarawak,” said Datuk Jonathan Chai.
Chai who is President of the Association of the Boards of Management of Aided Chinese Primary Schools in Kuching, Samarahan, and Serian Divisions, welcomed this development, describing it as great news.
He said this could definitely shorten the bureaucratic process as prior to the agreement, the authority to approve projects, even though funded by the state government, rested with the Ministry of Education (MoE) in Putrajaya.
However, he said, it is necessary to wait for the details whether the scope includes the relocation and rebuilding of the schools.
“In any event, the latest policy is an important step forward in regaining autonomy in education,” he told New Sarawak Tribune on today.
Chai said, quite often, state assemblymen have had problems disbursing their funds because of delays in getting the requisite approvals from the Education Ministry at the federal level and problems arise because they need to disburse their allocation within the relevant financial year to comply with the guidelines of funding.
“With the power to approve projects directly funded by the state government, I hope the Sarawak Education Department could expedite the process so that the repair or rebuilding of the schools concerned could be carried out without further delay,” he added.
On Thursday, the Education Ministry’s secretary general Datuk Indera Nik Nasarudin Zawawi presented the document to delegate the authority to the Sarawak Education Department director Datuk Dr Azhar Ahmad.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union (KGBS) president Zulkiflee Sebli who also welcomed the announcement believed that many planned projects and infrastructure initiatives will now proceed smoothly.
He said it was indeed a wise and appropriate move to delegate the authority to approve projects in Sarawak to the state education department as the Malay saying goes “hanya jauhari mengenal manikam”, which means only the jeweller knows the value of a gem.
He was referring to the Sarawak Education Department’s deep understanding of the challenges faced by schools in Sarawak, particularly in rural areas.
He believed that empowering the Sarawak Education Department marked the beginning of greater autonomy for education in Sarawak, facilitating the formulation of education strategies and easing bureaucratic processes.
KGBS, he said, expressed their gratitude to the Education Ministry for acknowledging Sarawak’s needs and expressed optimism that the Sarawak Education Department will now swiftly address school infrastructure complaints state-wide.
Additionally, he said the union hoped for continued state government support, particularly financial aid channelled through the state education department to benefit schools and students in Sarawak.
“This will definitely contribute to making Sarawak a developed state with a high income economy by 2030,” he added.
