RM474.55 million allocation for education this year
Published on: Tuesday, July 30, 2024
By: Larry Ralon
Hajiji (seventh right) in a group photo with other guests and recipients of the 2024 Mekar Special Awards.
Kota Kinabalu: The State Government always cooperates with the Education Ministry through the State Education Department in realising the Government’s agenda towards empowering and improving the excellence and quality of education in the State.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said this collaboration is critical because excellence in education will be a catalyst for improving the quality of life of the people as a whole.
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He said the effort included improving the education infrastructure in the State, in line with the State Government’s commitment to produce skilled, excellent and competitive human capital.
“Therefore, all relevant parties, including Education Department officials, educators and parents, need to join hands and work together for the success and future of our children.
“That’s why in the context of the State Government, we continue to strengthen human capital development so that more young Sabahans can continue their education to the highest level and take the necessary skills courses.
“In this regard, we are providing an allocation of RM474.55 million this year,” he said when officiating the Sabah Education Department’s 12th Academic Excellence Recognition Ceremony (Mekar) 2024 at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), here, Monday.
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Hajiji said the State Government has launched the Sabah Education Sponsorship Portal which combines all the main sponsors in education in the State in one portal.
It is a new initiative under the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) in empowering help for young Sabahans, especially those who continue their studies at higher levels through the collaboration of major sponsoring bodies and education aid providers.
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He wants the State Education Department to help spread the word about the portal to empower human capital through the development of the education sector in the State.
He hopes the sciences and methods of teaching based on communication and internet technology (ICT) continue to be practised and cultured, at the same time making the current challenge and knowledge a reformer in teaching, in line with the country’s aspirations to have a competitive and excellent education system.
“The existence of an education system that is ‘glocal’, that is capable of being competitive at the global level but holding fast to one’s identity, is very important.
“Thus, State Education Department officials, in particular, will play a role and be responsible in facing the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0,” he said.
According to him, the State Government also always supports the Education Department’s efforts to realise the aspiration of the nine Education Landscape Focuses contained in the direction of achievement outlined by the Education Department from 2024 to 2025.
He said this included a declaration translated from the Education Landscape, which points out the State Average Grade (GPN) of SPM ‘Kepala 5’, in line with the direction of the SMJ Development Plan 1.0 which outlines the development of human capital as one of the main objectives.
“We hope the excellence achieved today will be cultivated and made into a continuous practice and become an example to all in the Education Department in forming an excellent educational ecosystem,” he added.
Hajiji also hopes the recognition given through Mekar will be a motivator and fuel for educators to continue to improve excellence in the future and as a model of excellence that should be applied towards the culture of excellence in all aspects of education.
“Hopefully the State’s education sector will continue to thrive in line with the pace of today’s education world, which is also related to the development and sophistication of information technology in the 21st century.
“We can no longer afford to lag far behind in any field, especially in the education sector which is the most important in creating and building the development of human capital for the sake of progress and development of the State and the country,” he said.
Also present were Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif, State Education Director Datuk Raisin Saidin and Sabah Foundation Director Dato’ Sri Gulamhaidar Khan Bahadar.
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