(Miri, 2nd) The Deputy Minister of the Department of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development of Sarawak, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapa'ee, pointed out that the Sarawak government is actively promoting an Education Enhancement (SEEP) Plan covering 185 schools, aimed at enhancing the education level across the state and improving communication and collaboration between schools. The plan aims to achieve universal access to socialized free education by 2026, and this new initiative is seen as an important milestone.
Datuk Dr Annuar Rapa'ee stated this in an interview with the media after presiding over the North Sarawak Region Education Enhancement Plan Workshop in Miri. He mentioned that some previous educational projects lacked supervision or progressed slowly during implementation. Therefore, the implementation of this plan will be more rigorous, especially in ensuring problem-solving.
"We will visit the entire Sarawak, including Sibu, Mukah, Kuching, Bintulu, and other places, to understand the specific issues schools face during the plan's execution and divide them into six groups to discuss improvement solutions. The goal is to complete all coordination and resolution of related issues before the new school term starts in February next year."
He stated that this plan will focus on data-driven decision-making and establish clear key performance indicators (KPI) to ensure the program's effectiveness.
"We not only focus on academic progress for students but also hope to improve extracurricular activity performance, cultivating students with excellent comprehensive qualities."
Moreover, he mentioned another existing program called HIPERS, aimed at creating "high-performance schools," but after years of operation, some schools have not reached the expected goals.
"We do not want to repeat past mistakes; any plan should reflect value instead of wasting time and resources. Therefore, we are re-evaluating the HIPERS plan and considering combining it with the new SEEP (Education Enhancement Plan) to ensure resource optimization and clear objectives."
He emphasized that the new plan will not cause additional learning pressure on students. Our aim is to provide more support for students, not to increase their burden. Only in a relaxed environment can students better unleash their potential.
“The SEEP plan will be a turning point in educational development. As long as it is executed properly and goals are clear, it will inject new vitality into the Sarawak education system and create a better learning environment for students.”
With 185 schools gradually joining the new plan, the comprehensive enhancement of Sarawak's education level is just around the corner.