By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, May 9: The Bidayuh language curriculum has been developed up to Primary 3 level as efforts intensify to secure formal recognition for it to be taught in schools, said Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) president Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik.
He said the initiative is part of DBNA’s ongoing Bidayuh Language Development Programme, which includes Multi-Lingual Education (MLE) and the Kurikulum Bahasa Bidayuh (KBB), aimed at safeguarding, documenting and strengthening the use of the language among younger generations.
“Our dream is to get it formally endorsed by the Ministry of Education (MOE) as an elective subject in Bidayuh-majority primary schools in Bidayuh areas.
“As of now, the committee has worked on the curriculum development up to Primary 3. If it is approved, we will start with Primary 1, Primary 2 and Primary 3 first. That is our dream,” he said when speaking at the opening of DBNA’s 11th Triennial General Assembly (TGA) 2026 held at the DBNA Headquarters Multipurpose Hall, Jalan Kumpang here last night (May 8).
Meanwhile, Sarawak Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the State government fully supports the initiative undertaken by DBNA.
“We are giving our full support. I’ve signed the letters and all that. This has been a long project actually, since the time of Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong (former Sarawak Minister for Education, Science and Technological Research).
“And now I’m continuing with this, together with our Bidayuh language committee, which comprises several teachers and lecturers who are helping us to do this. So hopefully we will get it done,” he said.
He added that the main challenge currently lies in completing the syllabus.
“Actually the main problem is we have not yet got ready the syllabus for it. So, I hope the committee will come up with the required syllabus. Then we will start it in our schools,” he added. — DayakDaily
