Reconsider decision to close down IPG Keningau: PBRS
Published on: Thursday, October 27, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: Following rumours that the Keningau Teachers Institute (IPG Keningau) would be closed down, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah deputy president Arthur Joseph Kurup has stepped in to call on the Education Ministry to reconsider if indeed, such a proposal existed.He said this in response to growing calls from the people from interior Sabah for the institute to remain open as its importance was also linked to historical and sentimental significance, among others."The ministry can do more to address the lack of teachers at the institute, which they claim is the reason for their decision.
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"There are other ways to utilise the facility more effectively, such as transferring teachers from urban institutes such as from Kota Kinabalu or from other states to Keningau," he said in a statement, Wednesday.Arthur said this could be part of the policy to ease the rapid population growth in capital cities and move teachers to rural institutes to promote growth in rural areas, as well as promote teaching excellence in rural districts."This will increase rural population and stimulate growth in interior districts, and improve the quality of pedagogy for our rural population."Closing this institute will result in our rural teachers, who are already from the lower income group, having to move further or to bigger cities to complete their courses and training," he noted.
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In the event the teachers institute was closed down, Arthur said the ministry should reveal its plans for the IPG building facility, which would be left empty.He also suggested the ministry consider using the existing infrastructure to open up a Mara training college or another vocational college to cater to the increasing demand for vocational skills nationwide.
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