Page 376 - The Guide To Sarawak

374 USEFUL INFORMATION
The broad age range of the delighted graduates at this graduation ceremony emphasizes Sarawak’s commitment to lifelong learning.
teaching methods such as Montessori pre-schools. All are licensed and regulated by the government.
PRIMARY & SECONDARY
The Malaysian Ministry of Education (MOE) oversees schools at primary
and secondary levels. Education is compulsory to age 16 and free of charge in government schools. Primary education usually begins at age 6 and continues for 6 years, with children entering secondary school in
their 13th year, where
they continue for 5 years until they sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) or Malaysian Certificate of Education, equivalent to GCSEs. Able students may continue to study for the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) or Malaysian Higher School Certificate, which is required to enter
Sarawak, A Major Education Hub
Sarawak has a literacy rate of over 90 per cent, thanks to the strenuous efforts
of the Federal and State governments to provide a quality education system for all.
PRE-SCHOOL
The State government
is committed to the development of pre- school education, and government-supported kindergartens and pre- schools can be found
in every urban area in Sarawak. There are also
a number of government pre-schools in remote
rural longhouses and villages, with the long-term objective of providing pre- school education for every community in the state.
In the private sector,
parents have a wide choice of early education opportunities. These range from kindergartens and pre-schools run
by religious groups, especially those
attached to mosques, temples and churches,
to international early education franchises and even popular alternative
The former Chief Minister (now governor) takes a hands-on approach to his Vision for Education.