SIBU: A knowledge corner (‘Laman Ilmu’) costing RM28,000 has been set up in SK Agama Sibu, to provide a fun, conducive and natural learning environment for its pupils.
It was officiated by Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapaee yesterday.
Speaking at a press conference after the launch, Unimas vice-chancellor Prof Dato Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi said the project was in collaboration with the school and its PTA together with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) in a community project under the University Community Transformation Centre (UCTC).
“This is among the 20 projects we implemented throughout the state. The project is provided with an allocation under UCTC channelled through the Ministry of Higher Education.
“Thus far, the ministry has allocated about RM1.4 million for us to implement the 20 projects in Sarawak to benefit the local community in particular in assisting them to add value to their daily activities,” added Dr Kadim.
Citing the knowledge corner, he said it was built through the efforts of the school and Unimas with an allocation of RM17,000 from UCTC Unimas.
Among others, they brought along lecturers from the centre of language studies from Unimas, who had prepared a training module, said Dr Kadim.
This he said was to motivate pupils from SK Agama to take interest in the programmes rolled out in the school.
Earlier in his speech, Dr Annuar said since becoming the assemblyman for Nangka, he had stressed on the importance of education.
He said there were five primary and two secondary schools in the constituency.
He recalled the Elite programme where 20 pupils were gathered and tutored to achieve outstanding results in UPSR.
“Four years on, the programme has come to fruition where SK Abang Ali, for example, had produced 20 pupils with straight As.”
He recalled last year when SK Agama Sibu produced 21 pupils scoring five As.
As for SPM, students sitting for the public examination were given intensive tutoring for three months with UCTS providing the avenue.
He added this was done for free to ensure students achieved good results in public examination.
“Education is most important as it unlocks the door to better opportunities and enables us to compete at the highest level,” Dr Annuar said.
The school headmaster Sharkawi Hamdan also spoke at the function.
Among those present were deputy vice-chancellor (research and innovation) Prof Dr Kopli Bujang, Assoc Prof Dr Mohammad Ibrahim Safawi Mohammad Zain and dean of centre of language studies Dr Norazuna Norahim.