By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 25: The shortage of Iban language teachers in Sarawak remains a pressing issue despite Sultan Idris University of Education (UPSI) and the Rajang Teacher Education Institute already offering the subject.
In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news report, Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department Dato Sri John Sikie Tayai however, expressed optimism that the situation will improve once Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) introduces Iban studies in its 2025/2026 intake.
He said the initiative is part of the government’s long-term effort to produce more educators formally trained in the subject.
“The shift in how the Iban language is taught, from being passed down informally through daily speech to becoming an academic discipline at the university level, demonstrates its importance to the younger generation, ensuring it is not lost amid the tide of modernisation,” he said.
He made this remarks when officiating the Jaku Tangkai Mengandai Keynote Lecture Ceremony held at the Borneo Culture Museum today.
Sikie stressed that with more institutions of higher learning offering Iban, the younger generation, including those from other communities, will have greater opportunities to learn, appreciate, and speak the language.
Also present were Minister of Women, Chilhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Bumiputera Law and Customs) Datuk Jefferson Jamit Unyat, UPSI deputy vice chancellor (Research and Innovation) Professor Dr Suriani Abu Bakar, UPSI Faculty of Languages and Communication Dean Associate Professor Dr Mazura@Mastura Muhammad and Sarawak Museum Department director Nancy Jolhi. — DayakDaily
