Education still key in poverty eradication – Max

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Maximus presenting excellence award to one of SMK Tandek’s top scorers.

KOTA MARUDU: Development of rural schools is not an option, nor a ‘want’; it is a must.

Stressing that it was a vital basic need for the people, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili noted that education was still the means to develop long-term human capital.

“It is the most important basic infrastructure to be provided to rural communities, and education is still the means to develop long-term human capital,” he said to the crowd at SMK Tandek Excellence Awards programme here yesterday.

The Kota Marudu MP added that basic infrastructures such such as clean water, electricity supply, roads and medical facilities were important necessities.

“But the prime mover in poverty eradication and income improvement is still education.

“Hence, development of rural schools is a must. It is not an option nor a ‘want’, it’s the community’s basic need,” he said.

That is why Barisan Nasional has always championed provision of rural education infrastructure although a lot more needed to be done.

Maximus added that good teacher leadership at school level and hard working teachers, equipped with cooperative parents, were important keys to success.

“SMK Tandek is an excellent model where under good tripartite partnership among teachers, parents and community, the school had persistently improved in all examination results over the last three years.

“The school was even able to compete with big schools in other districts,” he said.

At the event, Maximus presented excellence awards to the school’s top scorers in Pentaksiran Tingkatan 3 (PT3), Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Persekolahan Tinggi Malaysia (STPM).