KOTA KINABALU: The PKR State Leadership Council (MPN Sabah PKR) has resolved to set up a state-level education committee to discuss relevant education issues and provide constructive proposals for improvement.
This was among the resolutions adopted by the party on improving the teaching and learning system at home (PdPR) from the generational perspective, at the People’s Forum : Impact of Teaching and Learning at Home (PdPR) on Generational Education on Friday.
Chairperson of MPN Sabah PKR, Datuk Christina Liew (photo) officiated at the online forum organised by the party’s Information and Communication Bureau led by State Information Chief Chrisnadia Sinam.
In a statement released by the Bureau on Saturday, Liew said it is of utmost importance to meet the different education needs of the younger generation living in a digital era today, in facing a situation where the COVID-19 pandemic may warrant a longer closure of schools in the country.
“While we take pride in the SPM 2020 results achieved by Sabah students, the improvement in performance may not reflect the real problems faced by teachers, parents and students, particularly in the rural areas.
“If we analyse the data, we can see that the State Average Grade (GPN) of 5.34 is below the National Average Grade (GPN) of 4.80 recorded for SPM 2020.
“However, there is ample room for improvement and we are optimistic Sabah will fare better in the SPM 2021 examination with enhanced learning facilities and greater incentives for students,” she said.
Liew, who is also Tawau MP cum Api Api Assemblywoman, reminded the Federal Government to upgrade or rebuild the remaining dilapidated schools in Sabah for a more conducive teaching-learning environment (as pledged earlier).
Expressing concern over the imbalance of teacher postings to rural areas in Sabah as some schools lack the right teachers in terms of subject options, she called on the Education Ministry to rectify the shortage by appointing new teachers to fill the gap, preferably Sabahans.
Another resolution was directed at urging the GRS Government to consider reinstating the Sabah Education Ministry for first-hand knowledge of needs and problems on the ground in seeking possible solutions, given that the state is lagging behind others in the nation’s education development.
Last but not least, Sabah PKR reiterated its call for Parliament to be reconvened to discuss the education system pertaining to the future of our young generation, among other pressing issues.
