KGBS supports setting up of 21st century classrooms

0

Ahmad Malie

SIBU: Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union (KGBS) supports the setting up of one 21st century classroom in each division announced by Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong.

However, KGBS president Ahmad Malie said such classrooms should not be confined to one school in each division but should be set up in every school in Sarawak.

He was commenting on Manyin’s statement that the classrooms are expected to be set up in one school in one division next year to introduce students to the environment that they will be facing when they enter the workforce in future.

Manyin said the classroom would enable students to develop higher order thinking and collaboration skills.

The minister had also revealed that the selection of the schools would be based on their accessibility to other schools.

He added that the classrooms will be similar to Finland’s 21st century classrooms, which have transformed the country from being an industrial-agrarian society into an innovation-based knowledge economy.

The 21st-century classrooms can each accommodate 30 to 35 students who will be grouped into five to six clusters.

Ahmad said the classrooms can be set up by Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research (MESTR).

“For a start, MESTR needs to equip the model schools with 21st century classroom infrastructure, especially providing students with multi functions desks to the schools concerned by taking cue from Finland’s student desks besides other facilities.”

KGBS hopes that MESTR will be able to establish the 21st century classrooms by next year.

“If Sarawak through MESTR can set up a model 21st century classroom, KGBS is confident and believes these classrooms will become an example and reference to other schools,” Ahmad said.