Sarawak Education Department director Rakayah Madon and Manyin (second and third right) listen to a briefing by one of the education exhibitors.
MIRI: School principals have been called on to equip themselves with the latest knowledge and skills, as well as to be technologically savvy.
Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong said continuous professional development is necessary in order to handle the challenges of Industry 4.0.
“We cannot be content with mediocre performances as times have changed and now technology is evolving very fast, whereas our children need to be very attentive, innovative, and be able to meet the challenges of Industry 4.0.
“It is going to be a very tough task but it is education that will give individuals the opportunities to have upward mobility and to be able to contribute to the community and the nation’s progress,” he said at the 53rd Secondary School Principals Education Management Conference of Sarawak yesterday.
He stressed that teaching in the 21st century, especially for principals, involved challenges from intellectual to spiritual, cultural, material, new ideologies, and issues related to public service ethics.
“In this digital era, changes and challenges that are faced by principals are inevitable. They become part and parcel of delivering high quality learning opportunities at school and, to address these challenges, principals need to have high self-esteem to be able to rise and make themselves strong role models for teachers and students under their leadership,” he explained.
The conference, which started on Monday and ends tomorrow (July 12), involves 193 secondary school principals and 31 district education officers.