Chukpai (seventh left), Ugak (ninth right), and Jiwari (eighth right) in a photocall after the presentation of incentives for the pupils.
KUCHING: Several Primary 6 pupils from several schools in Belaga preparing for their first year of secondary schooling this year have benefited from an excursion to Bintulu organised by Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) in partnership with Belaga District Education office, recently.
SEB sponsored their supplies and provisions, it said in a press statement received here yesterday.
The trip was aimed at enhancing academic performance of students in primary and secondary schools in the area by giving them incentives and exposing them to new experiences and motivate them to strive for academic excellence.
More than 20 pupils from SK Abun Matu, SK Batu Keling, SK Long Gang, SK Airport, SK Punan Ba, SK Long Busang and SK Long Urun, accompanied by their teachers, went on the trip.
As part of the excursion, the pupils and teachers were treated to lunch together with Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong, Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon, SEB assistant general manager for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Jiwari Abdullah and Belaga District Education Officer Nora Igang.
“The success of our children, especially those from rural areas will not be possible unless everyone puts their heart and soul in ensuring these goals are achieved. It is with knowledge and education that they could move forward in life,” Jiwari said at the luncheon.
He also thanked the teachers for their hard work and dedication in nurturing the pupils.
Ugak reminded the pupils the importance of education in shaping their future and encouraged them to pursue higher education.
“This is not the end of a journey, but the start of a new chapter. Hard work, dedication and commitment alone are not enough without discipline.
“In just a matter of time, all of you will be working after completing your studies. Please remember to give back to the community especially your own family who have sacrificed so much to provide the opportunity for education,” he added.
Chukpai meanwhile called on the pupils and teachers not to take things lightly but to strive towards greater achievement to meet the challenges of an increasingly competitive world.
Ugak and Chukpai also thanked SEB and Belaga District Education office for their continuous efforts in educational enhancement programmes and other development initiatives for the local community.
‘Education and Young People’ is a key emphasis of Sarawak Energy’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) pillars. The energy developer and state power utility’s CSR initiatives and social investments are focused on areas affected by its projects, and people in Belaga District are part of this as the Murum and Bakun hydropower plants are located in the district.
By engaging and working with the communities themselves, SEB has developed programmes that address community needs from their perspective.
Initiatives under this pillar include ‘Adopt A School’ for SMK Bakun, academic workshops for students sitting for public examinations and youth training programmes.
Other activities organised bySEB in the area include Fire Safety Awareness and Prevention Programmes for 15 longhouses in the Bakun Resettlement Area in Apau Koyanas well as contributing fire extinguishers and firefighting equipment to them last October. SEB also organised a similar educational trip to Kuching for the students of SMK Bakun
Other support given by SEB include providing immediate assistance to fire victims at Uma Badeng, Apau Koyan in June and sponsoring a group of artisans from Belaga to participate in this year’s Borneo International Beads Conference (BIBCO) in October.