IPG Miri may be turned into polytechnic, TVET centre

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MIRI: There is a high possibility that the government will turn Miri Teachers’ Training Institute (IPG) into a polytechnic or technical and vocational education and training (TVET) centre but nonetheless the Ministry of Education (MoE) is willing to hear the views from relevant parties and conduct more studies on the matter if there is any further development.

Lukanisman Awang Sauni

Sibuti MP Lukanisman Awang Sauni said this when commenting on deputy minister Teo Nie Ching’s response to Senator Alan Ling Sie Kong during the recent Dewan Negara sitting. Lukanisman said during the previous Parliament sitting, the ministry agrees to stick to the previous government’s decision (on May 24, 2017) to change the status of the nine IPGs based on the results of the research that was submitted.

“I have submitted questions during the last Parliament sitting and the answer was that the government will continue with the decision on the IPG closure and change the status to TVET centres in which I also expressed my views and included the same issue during the Royal Address.

“I argued on the need for IPG to be maintained in northern Sarawak to accommodate enrolment from northern parts such as Bintulu, Baram, Miri to Limbang and Lawas as well as to ensure the quota of 90:10 local teachers can be achieved,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.

In fact Lukanisman said during Minister of Education Dr Maszlee Malik’s winding-up in the last Parliament sitting, the latter stated that the closure of the IPG would not affect the process of producing teachers as most students were found to be  more interested in obtaining their Bachelor in Education at local universities.

“Dr Maszlee basically said the lack of enrollment at IPG and students’ preference to enter public institutes of higher learning (IPTA) are among the reasons which will lead to the decision in changing the IPG status to TVET centres,” he said.