Expanding education to Sabah's rural areas
Published on: Sunday, June 29, 2025
Published on: Sun, Jun 29, 2025
By: Nora Ahmad Text Size: Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek - pix Bernama Kota Kinabalu: The Education Ministry is intensifying efforts to ensure Sabah is not left behind in education, particularly in rural areas. Its Minister, Fadhlina Sidek, said Sabah remains a priority in the implementation of national education policies and reforms. 'We are committed to addressing issues of access and ensuring no student is left behind,' she said, after attending the 69th anniversary celebration of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), Saturday. She said the Ministry is working closely with Ministry of Defence (Mindef) to expand educational access in the interior through a special programme in the state. 'A programme known as ProKhas has been launched in Kg Serudong Laut, Tawau, under Mindef's Jiwa Murni initiative. We're collaborating with Mindef to build a school in Kg Serudong Laut. This joint commitment aims to develop educational facilities in the area with full involvement from the local community,' she explained. Although the construction of the school is still in the planning stage, she said learning sessions have already begun to prevent children from falling behind. 'Reading classes are being conducted by a rotation of teachers provided by the Sabah State Education Department (JPNS). 'During our visit, around 20 to 30 pupils were already attending classes. We are now gathering data to determine the full number of students, with the aim of ensuring consistent attendance. The numbers are expected to increase over time,' she added. Fadhlina also expressed pride in Sabah's recent academic achievements in the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examination. 'More than 146 students in Sabah scored a perfect CGPA of 4.0, this is a clear testament to the success of the education reforms we have put in place. 'This achievement will further motivate the MoE to strengthen the implementation of educational programmes, including enhancing the Form Six pathway in the state,' she said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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