KUCHING, Dec 3: The Sarawak government is contemplating building local private schools, where English will be the medium of Instruction, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
The state Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research has been entrusted to work out the details.
“The Dayak Cultural Foundation (as well) was planning to sponsor Dayak students to enrol in existing private schools.
“It is still deciding the criteria for selection of students for this. The foundation, too, will provide boarding for those selected,” said Uggah when officiating at Persatuan Alumni Dayak University Malaya (Padum)’s annual dinner here on Saturday.
Padum, as an association representing Dayak intellectuals, has been told to play greater roles next year in the field of education and agropreneurship.
“We need to promote academic excellence among our students. We also want our Dayak youths to take up agropreneurship,” said Uggah, who is Padum’s advisor.
He said academic excellence would lead to good qualifications and jobs.
“On the other hand, modern commercial farming is a new source of wealth. Our youths should not let go of this opportunity to become agropreneurs, as they have the advantage of land.
“As such, Padum, being a highly regarded association among the community, certainly could play its role,” said Uggah, who is also Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development.
For instance, he said, Padum’s members could help explain the various and latest government plans, policies and assistance on modern agriculture to the Dayak community.
He promised to continue advising more Dayak youths to embark on modern commercial agriculture rather than the traditional subsistence farming.
“We want to upgrade the rural economy and banish the remnants of poverty,” said Uggah, adding that was the reason behind the state government embarking on modern farming to transform the rural economy.
Also present at the gathering were Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong and Mulu assemblyman-cum-Deputy Speaker Dato Gerawat Gala. — DayakDaily
