Serina (second left) and Fatimah speaking to reporters.
KUCHING: Institut Aminuddin Baki here will hold a convention on Feb 21 that is aimed at promoting good citizenship to the public through education.
According to institute director Serina Sauni, the organising committee expects a turnout of 2,000 comprising educators, members of education groups, school leadership bodies and parents-teachers associations (PTAs), as well as representatives from Sarawak Teachers Union, Bumiputera Teachers Federation Sarawak and Education Office from all districts across the state.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem is expected to officiate at the state-level ‘Citizenship Education Convention 2016’.
“Teachers and educationalists are the agents of change in the community. Principals and headmasters are the top leadership at school level, and are very influential.
“The national-level convention was held in Melaka last year, while the state-level events will be held in all states throughout this year,” Serina told reporters yesterday after paying a courtesy call on Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah to discuss on the convention.
The topics to be presented at the event would be ‘National Education Philosophy: One Hope, One Vision’ by Datu Dr Adi Badiozaman Tuah; ‘Teachers’ Role in Ensuring the Everlasting State’s Harmony’ by Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Kota Samarahan rector Prof Dato Dr Jamil Hamali; ‘Issue and Challenges in Realising the Meaning of Harmony’ by Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) Special Terrorism Counter Division director SAC Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.
There would also be a forum on ‘Skilling the Nation’s Future’, to be moderated by Skills Development Department director-general Datuk Dr Pang Chau Leong and Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda) chief executive officer Tan Sri Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot.
“The threats are different – we have terrorism now. It is important to prevent (terrorism) and create awareness of issues that can threaten the harmony and unity, especially in Sarawak, so that both teachers and students would know about them (issues),” Serina said, adding that the venue had yet to be confirmed due to a change in date.
Later, Fatimah told the media that bursary scholarship holders, whose Public Service Department (JPA) scholarship applications were postponed, had been urged to look for other funding alternatives to further their studies.
She admitted that it was a pity for these top students that they had to face this stumbling block. She, however, suggested that they could either apply for scholarships elsewhere, or take up part-time jobs.
“On the state government’s side, we have Yayasan Sarawak and Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman that offer scholarships, but the students have to sign up for courses as agreed, based on the needs in the country,” she said.
According to a recent news report, the applications for overseas scholarships by bursary scholarship holders had been postponed without any prior official notice. The article, which was a follow-up of a complaint by a parent of a recipient, stated that those affected had completed their A-levels.
When contacted, the ministry-in-charge of the matter confirmed that the JPA was still in discussion to restructure the scholarship process for bursary scholarship holders.