Manyin (second left) and Miro (left) join the cultural troupe of Kampung Gumbang for a traditional dance.
BAU: Sarawak will make full use of the opportunity given to implement the use of English to teach of Mathematics and Science in primary schools next year to produce new generation of Sarawakians who are highly proficient in English language.
Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong said this programme, if successfully implemented, would make students more confident to communicate in English and this would make them more marketable and competitive in the global arena.
In appealing to parents to give their full support to this programme, Manyin said the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research (MESTR) was now holding several meetings with Sarawak Education Department (JPNS) to plan and strategise for effectiveness of this programme.
“Other states are not offered this opportunity (to do this programme), only Sarawak. And now I heard that people in Sabah are interested to also implement this programme.
“This is a big challenge for Sarawak. That’s why my Ministry is already meeting few times with JPNS to prepare for this big task but I believe that all parents give their support, we can succeed and Sarawak will have the batch of students who are proficient in English.
“At present, many of those who graduated are not proficient in English and that has become their weakness. But through this programme, the students will have more confidence to communicate in English and compete globally,” he said when speaking at the Serembu Pre-Gawai Festival at Siniawan community hall last night.
Sarawak had agreed to be the first state to implement the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English for primary schools effective Jan 1 next year, after the opportunity was offered during a meeting on April 24 between Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and federal Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik.
Based on a recent news report, the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English programme was estimated to cost Sarawak government a sum of RM31 million which would cover training of teachers and printing of textbooks.
Some 3,000 teachers across 900 schools would need to be trained. However, Chinese schools had opted out of this programme in order to continue teaching of these two subjects in Mandarin.
On another matter, Manyin called on the Bidayuh community to strengthen their unity during the coming Gawai celebration. He said the Bidayuhs must aim for unity of purpose, where they help each other to be successful and the community as a whole contribute significantly to the state and nation.
He was happy to note that members of the Bidayuh ethnic group were proud to be identified as Bidayuhs even though they came from different dialect groups from Lundu, Bau, Padawan/ Penrissen and Serian.
Meanwhile, the event that night saw cultural performances and also crowning of the Dayung Sangon (for ladies) and Dari Pogan (for men) pageant winners. Guest artistes Art Adau and Jimmy Palikat also performed.
Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh, Tasik Biru assemblyman Dato Henry Harry Jinep, Machan assemblyman Alan Siden Gramong, and Persatuan Asal Serembu Bau chairman Dato Peter Nyomek were among those present.