Dr Annuar Rapaee
SIBU: Schoolchildren should not be made victims of political divide as any sincere effort to assist them towards attaining academic success ought to be welcomed, says Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee.
“There should be no concern about regulations if one is sincere in wanting to assist schoolchildren do well in their studies. All this assistance does not need to be in school. So why worry about the regulations and also why impose the regulation?
“Personally, I will help students in my constituency in whatever ways and means, and any restriction will not dampen my spirit and willingness to help with full sincerity,” he said yesterday.
Dr Annuar, who is also Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health, was reacting to Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik’s statement that opposition lawmakers must obtain approval from the relevant state education department directors before they could enter any school.
The Nangka assemblyman called on Maszlee not to politicise education as it would only result in schoolchildren becoming victims.
“They (students) are the future of the country and so, let’s join hands to help them as entrusted – be it leaders, teachers and the community at large.”
Dr Annuar stressed that what should be on Maszlee’s priority list now is repairing, upgrading and rebuilding dilapidated schools to ensure students can learn in a conducive and safe environment.
He also listed the educational assistance to schoolchildren in his constituency to help them excel in their studies.
Among them are free tuition at An-Nur Mosque and longhouses, SPM_Click where free tuition is provided at University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS), Nangka Education Camp during school holidays, financial assistance for students pursuing tertiary education through Nangka Service Centre, and special assistance to Bumiputera students entering UCTS – a result of a collaboration between UCTS and Nangka Service Centre.