More emphasis for technical education

The Star

GENTING HIGHLANDS: The Education Ministry will give more emphasis to certain areas under the National Education Blueprint 2006-2010 next year.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said they included special, vocational and technical education.

“I think our monthly focus, which we have been doing since the launch of the blueprint in January this year, is the right approach,” he told reporters after opening the national convention on the blueprint at Institut Aminuddin Baki.

Hishammuddin had announced earlier that the blueprint’s six thrusts would be emphasised over various months, with rural education in February, cluster schools in March, smart schools in April and teachers in May.

“Having a monthly focus will make all the divisions work together and those who have been working in isolation work as a team,” he said.

He said the three-day convention involved all stakeholders including those at the ministry level.

“We want them to discuss the blueprint and what they have achieved according to the key performance indicators (KPI), as well as identify the challenges faced in making the blueprint a reality,” he said.

In terms of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, Hishammuddin said that as of Oct 31 this year, 2,560 projects costing RM2.56bil were completed while another 3,050 costing RM6.54bil were being undertaken.

Another 3,706 projects worth RM12.55bil were in the pre-construction process, and expected to start in the first quarter of next year, he said.

He said that as of Nov 15, the ministry had spent RM1.95bil or 64.9% of the RM2.24bil allocated under the Development Expenditure.