THE discussion on education autonomy for Sabah and Sarawak is expected to take some time before being finalised, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.

She said the discussion by the Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63)Technical Committee, involving the interests of the federal and state governments, was going well.

“The committee is very progressive, discussions are done in a harmonious environment and many issues are being studied and refined together,” she said after opening the state-level Madani gotong-royong programme and the Malaysian First Infantry Brigade anniversary at Sekolah Kebangsaaan Si Rusa in Port Dickson today.

Based on recent media reports, the Sabah government has expressed hope that the unity government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim could finalise the granting of administrative authority in the education and healthcare sectors soon as discussed through the MA63 Technical Committee.

Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor was reported as saying that the granting of more autonomy to the state government would enable them to ensure the education system in the state would be in line with that in the peninsula.

Regarding the decline in students’ interest in Science and Mathematics, Fadhlina said the direction of the teaching of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Stem) would be strengthened and various interventions and initiatives would be taken in collaboration with the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti).

“We also need the community to be more involved, more input and commitment from parents, especially to get children interested in Stem,” she said.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, when speaking at the Malaysian Commercialisation Year Summit 2023 today, urged the Education Ministry and the Mosti to find new approaches to attract students’ interest in Science and Mathematics.

He said this followed the latest study by MOE which revealed a decline in students’ interest in both subjects. – Bernama, August 4, 2023.