Fatimah (third right) presents a certificate of excellence to a representative of SK Bulau witnessed by (from left) Pemanca Ali, Rosey, Ripin and Antonio.
MIRI: The state government is using a holistic approach to accelerate development of the state by stepping up rural development to reduce its disparity gap with urban areas.
Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said this is aimed to prevent marginalisation of the rural population as the state progresses.
“Rural areas of Sarawak are lagging substantially behind urban centres, and the emphasis on rural development focuses on infrastructure development and improvement,” she said at a thanksgiving ceremony for Kampung Bulau and SK Kampung Bulau in Sibuti yesterday.
This is also in response to the needs and aspirations of the rural population in the state. Among the strategies are putting in place game-changing education opportunities for children to have a better future, she said.
The huge investments in the field of education each year is testament to this drive.
“We want to make sure that even rural students can excel in public examinations,” she said.
Fatimah commended SK Bulau for scoring 100 per cent pass rate in the UPSR examination for two consecutive years.
The school set up in 1961 has only 35 students but it has been proposed for grading to a high performing school for ranking third in the state in 2013 and among the top 125 schools in Malaysia.
One of its students scored straight As in 2013.
“We are proud of rural schools such as SK Bulau for showing much improvement,” she said.
The minister announced a RM20,000 grant for Miri District Education Department to improve school facilities and other needs, and MRP funds to upgrade Kampung Bulau’s community hall.
She presented a certificate of excellence to SK Kampung Bulau in recognition of its par excellence performance and hardworking teachers who made it possible.
Present at the function were Assistant Minister of Early Education cum Bekenu state assemblywoman Rosey Yunus, Lambir assemblyman Ripin Lamat, Miri Resident Antonio Kahti Galis and community leader Pemanca Ali Mudin.