Sarawak ministry to look into reducing pupils' heavy load

The Sarawak Education, Science and Technology Ministry will look for the best way to reduce the load of text books and exercise books carried by pupils to school.

Its minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong said his ministry would look into the matter as it is not right to carry school bags that were too heavy.

He also agreed with the caution made by Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid yesterday to not overload the pupils.

"Among the best education system in the world is Finland, in Finland students do not have any homework and they only sit for the exam at the age of 16, they do not have any homework, so what that does mean? They do not carry any books," he said.

He told reporters this after officiating the closing of the International Conference on Borneo Book Publishing 2017 in Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) here today.

Meanwhile, on the issue of Gawai Dayak celebration that was excluded in the mid-year school holidays calendar for next year, Manyin said he would be heading to Kuala Lumpur to get an explanation from the relevant authorities.

"I just returned (from Europe) yesterday and do not have any information on the matter. Is better that I go there and discuss as soon as possible," he said. -- Bernama