KOTA KINABALU: Sabah STAR wants the Education Ministry to explain why the native Kaamatan and Gawai festivals were not taken into account when the 2022 school year was drafted.

       Sabah STAR president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said, according to the academic calendar published by the ministry, the first term break was slated to begin on June 4 and will 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 situation of Sabahans and Sarawakians?” Kitingan asked.

       Kitingan, who is also the state Deputy Chief Minister, said that the ministry has infuriated Sabahans and Sarawakians with their insensitivity.

       “There are many Sabahans and Sarawakians who live in the peninsula. They make 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 school and are only able to go back home days after the festivals are over?” he asked.

       Kitingan said the Sabah government will contact the ministry as soon as possible to discuss ways to remedy the situation.