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KOTA KINABALU: The State Education Department is willing to support the proposal of the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education to establish a ‘Sister School’ relationship between schools in Sabah and Zhejiang schools.

As there are currently no links and networks with schools in Zhejiang, State Education Director Mistrine Randi said the department will be discussing with the Federal Education Ministry to make this a reality.

“Under the Malaysian Education Development Blueprint, the Ministry promotes schools to widen bilateral and multilateral network links with overseas schools to achieve cluster and high performance standard.

“Several schools in Sabah have ‘Sister School’ relationship with schools abroad due to  the efforts and initiatives of the schools, School Management Board and Parents Teachers Association. 

“For example, SMK Tamparuli has established relations with South Korean schools, while SJKC St James, SJKC Anglo Chinese, SJKC Yuk Yin Keningau, SMJK Kota Kinabalu High School, and others have also established such relations with schools in Shenzhen and other cities,” she said.

She said several SPM students have been offered scholarships to study at universities in China such as in Xiamen University and Fudan University, among others.

Mistrine said this during the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education working visit to Wisma Pendidikan, here, Monday.

The meeting between the two education departments was also aimed to help strengthen  ties not only between education departments but also schools.

Leading the delegation was Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education Deputy General Director Yu Yong Ming.

The delegates consist Hangzhou Dianzhi University Vice President Prof Dr Wu Qing, Zhejiang International Studies University Vice President Chai Gaiying, Zhejiang Province University Division of International Cooperation and Exchanges Director Xu Li Hua, and Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education Division of International Cooperation and Exchanges Deputy Director Lan Jing Jing.

Also present were Assistant Director for Chinese schools Tham Yun Fook, Assistant Consulate General of China Consulate General in Kota Kinabalu Zhung Jing, State Chinese Schools and Committee Chairman Ben Lim Kiat Kong and his deputy Datuk Lo Kim Thong.

The State Education Department will be conducting a visit at the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education in June.