FOR YOU: Kartini presents a souvenir to Dr Rahman as (from third left) Abdillah, Anuar and John look on.
LIMBANG: Top performing rural school, SK Tiga Kampong in Limbang, is spearheading a move by rural schools in Sarawak to revive interest in traditional music as part of conservation efforts in the state.
Bukit Kota state assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail said this noble act deserved the support of all quarters.
“It’s only right that the younger generation master traditional skills and traditions to prevent them dying out from the onslaught of modernisation,” he said.
SK Tiga Kamong included them as part of co-curricular activities to revive cultural heritage among students.
“There are not many among the young who can play traditional musical instruments in the present era,” he said, officiating at the launch of the programme yesterday.
Among those present were deputy district education officer Anuar Naim, headmaster Kartini Hasbollah, chairman of Limbang Headmasters Council, John Sungkai and PTA chairman Abdillah Mat Zin.
Dr Rahman said SK Tiga Kampong played an important role in conservation of culture and art in the Malaysian rural scene.
“I believe the ‘kayu sandaman’ musical instrument will gain popularity as it could be used for traditional songs as well as modern melodies.”
Dr Rahman commended the school for their 100 per cent pass rate in the UPSR last year, making it among the top 700 primary schools in the country.
This puts them in the top 10 per cent of the 7,000 schools nationwide, and the Bukit Kota state assemblyman is rooting for the school to join its peer, SK Lubai, in the high performance cluster school bracket.
He announced a RM15,000 government grant for the school’s traditional music and sports programme.
SK Tiga Kampong, SK Melayu Pusat, SK Limbang, Sk Merambut, SK Telahak, SK Gadong and SK Limpaku Pinang participated in the Kebitaraaan Kokurikulum programme held at SK Tiga Kampong.