By Geryl Ogilvy
KUCHING, April 11: In a fully globalised, advanced society, educators must continue to emphasise the importance of putting good values in education.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the teaching fraternity must help to ensure that Malaysians of the future treasure good values and not one with decaying morality in the midst of modern society.
While today’s education focuses on producing smart, knowledgeable, critical-thinking human capital, inculcating good values and faith must not take a back seat to ensure the nation continues to progress properly, he added.
“The education that we provide to our children must be in line with our development initiative. We want to create a future generation with critical thinking and is able to develop ideas on par with advanced countries worldwide.
“While the ability to understand and cope with technology advancement will enable us to meet the demands of modern development, we must create citizens that understand the importance of loving their community.
“A balance in knowledge, skills and good values are the essence in producing quality human capital to support an advanced society,” the Chief Minister said at the Malaysian Headmasters Council’s 37th National Delegates Conference dinner here yesterday.
The conference, attended by 822 delegates from throughout the country, was also held together with its 25th National Education Conference.
Abang Johari admitted that human capital development in the modern era is challenging, as technology has its pros and cons. However, it is the state government’s aim to produce human capital that is fit for the digital era and the Industrial Revolution 4.0.
“Sarawak will play its role to collaborate with the federal government to produce multi-talented and skilled individuals. They must be smart, have a thirst for knowledge and, at the same time, possess strong faith and good family values.
“Our human capital development must be balanced and it is our educators, the teachers, headmasters, principals, who will play an important role in pushing this country forward,” he said.
Abang Johari said the Sarawak government would cooperate with the Education Ministry to solve its dilapidated schools’ issue, especially in the rural areas.
The state is also supporting all e-learning and e-education initiatives, which is reflected in its digital economy agenda to build Internet infrastructure across Sarawak.
“Apart from encouraging the people to learn new skills, knowledge and technology, the Internet will help spur rural economic growth with precision farming using the IoT (Internet of Things) as well as encourage participation in e-commerce to penetrate the global market,” he pointed out. — DayakDaily
