KOTA KINABALU: A closer working relationship between state and federal governments is needed to address issues in the implementation of education-related development projects and policies, says a Sabah minister.
State Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk James Ratib said issues such as abandoned school projects require close cooperation between the Federal Government, state government and local authorities to ensure the root causes can be identified and resolved.
He said the state government plays an important role in facilitating the implementation of education development projects, as several aspects of administration and regulation still fall under state jurisdiction.
He suggested reviewing procedures or regulations that may be slowing communication between state and federal officers to improve the efficiency of information flow.
“When communication flows more smoothly, every issue that arises can be identified earlier and solutions can be implemented more effectively for the benefit of Sabah’s education sector,” he said.
James was speaking to reporters after officiating the 14th Academic Excellence Awards at the Sabah International Convention Centre here.
He said cooperation on education between the state and federal governments must be strengthened to ensure policy implementation and educational development are better aligned in Sabah.
“A closer working relationship is important to ensure smooth information sharing that allows education-related issues to be addressed quickly and comprehensively,” he added.
James stressed that strengthening cooperation does not mean the current relationship is inadequate, but rather that improved communication is needed to ensure the state is updated on developments including delayed or abandoned school projects.
“We want collaboration between the state and federal governments to be further strengthened so that all information can be shared more effectively.
“This way, the state government can understand the issues that arise and help find solutions together with the relevant parties,” he added.
