The Sabah Speaker, Datuk Seri Salleh Tun Said has called for the Sabah State Education Department to be given more power and autonomy.

Salleh said many school buildings in the State are in need of repair and educational projects are not carried out systematically due to having to refer simple matters to Putrajaya jeopardising the Government’s efforts in developing education in Sabah.

The Sabah State Assembly Speaker has received the support of the Sabah State Education Director Datuk Dr. Muhiddin Yusin who has joined in the call for the state education department to be given greater empowerment on decision-making and the implementation of development projects, especially maintenance, training and recruitment of teachers.

In the Daily Express today, Muhiddin said:

“Allow us to manage our own allocations based on the concept: ‘Let managers manage’ and so on.

“Currently the department is not empowered to manage any allocation for development even if it is for projects costing below RM500,000.”

This despite Treasury regulations for more than 10 years which state that the department can decide on projects worth below RM500,000.

I call on the Education Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to reduce politicking inside and outside the country, as he is heading to become the worst Education Minister in the nation’s history.

Muhyiddin should fully devolve Education Ministry powers to Sabah State Education Department in the interests of autonomy and efficiency to better promote educational interests of Sabahans.

At present, the Sabah education scene is very topsy-turvy. Who must bear responsibility – the Education Minister in Putrajaya or the State Education Director in Kota Kinabalu?

Some of weaknesses, anomalies and downright abuses of authority in the present topsy-turvy scenario of the Sabah education scene include:

1. Unsafe schools in Sabah – some 90 schools are prone to flooding in any heavy rain, eg. SMK St Peters in Telipok;

2. “Cabin” classes in rural areas – where classes are built like “cabins”: sub-standard, poor construction, gaps not properly sealed, zinc roofs not properly placed, creating hazards and danger to school children.

3. Sabah has “computer labs” without computers or they have computers without power. Most of the 300 computer labs for secondary and primary schools in Sabah are “white-elephants” and not used for their intended purpose.

4. The RM7 million project to elevate SMK Peter Mojuntin in Penambang into a Sports School has been abandoned after three years.

5. Payments of school contract works have to be made by Putrajaya and not by the state education department.

6. Inordinate delay in the promotion of teachers in Sabah which have to be decided by Putrajaya, resulting in some 22 schoos in Sabah without principal ranging from six months to two years- highly detrimental to the educational interests of the students.

* Media Conference Statement in Sandakan on Sunday, 3rd July 2011 at 9 am