By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Dec 10: Innovative and “tough” Sarawakian teachers who are able to reach out to their students despite the challenges posed by the Movement Control Order (MCO) and lack of Internet connectivity are the stars of the virtual Sarawak English Language Symposium (Seles) 2020.
Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong said the symposium aimed to tapped into their experience and methods as they were requested to share these with their colleagues in the teaching profession.
“…in times of adversity, we find opportunities. As teachers and educators, we are spurred to find solutions to the hindrances that we face in making sure that our students continue to receive the education due to them.
“We become innovative to disseminate sessions and knowledge in places where connectivity is still a setback.
“Hence, for Seles 2020, the organisers gathered teachers in Sarawak who have found opportunities in adversity to reach out to their students where movements were controlled and places may have little or no Internet connectivity, to share their experiences and methods.
“We hope to learn and be inspired by them, that nothing is impossible where passion for learning and teaching is concerned.
“As Billy Ocean sang in one of his songs, ‘When the going gets tough, the tough gets going’,” said Manyin at the Seles 2020 which was themed “Opportunity in Adversity”. It was organised by the Education Ministry and Sarawak’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research on Dec 9 and 10 virtually.
Manyin said the ability to understand and communicate well in the English language can open up a myriad of opportunities for Sarawak’s younger generation in terms of employment, knowledge and to be globally competitive in innovation and scientific discoveries.
He thus urged teachers, educational leaders and policy makers to learn from each other to enhance their teaching knowledge and methods, and to continue to share what they have learnt with their colleagues in their respective schools or learning institutions. — DayakDaily
