KOTA KINABALU: Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) has demanded that the Ministry of Education explain why the Kaamatan and Gawai Festivals were not taken into account when the 2022 school year was drafted.
In the latest academic calendar published by the MoE, the first term break was slated to begin on June 4 and end on June 12.
“Did the ministry forget that the Kaamatan Festival falls on May 30 and 31 while the Gawai Festival is celebrated on June 1?
“How come those who sit on the committee to deliberate on this schedule did not consider the sentiments and situations of Sabahans and Sarawakians?” said STAR President Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
Kitingan who is also the Deputy Chief Minister said that the ministry has infuriated Sabahans and Sarawakians by their insensitivity.
“There are a lot of Sabahans and Sarawakians who live in Malaya. They make the annual trips back to their homelands to celebrate the two most important cultural festivals together with their families.
“How can they do that next year when their children still have to go to schools and only able to go back home days after the festivals are over?” he asked.
Kitingan said the Sabah government will contact the MoE as soon as possible to discuss ways to remedy the situation.-pr/BNN
