KUCHING, Oct 5: The Sarawak Initiatives (TSI) appeals to the Sarawak government to build more international schools and lay education infrastructure with the intention to eventually convert all government schools in Sarawak over to the English medium of instruction.
Its chairman Datuk John Tenewi Nuek in a press statement today asserted the Sarawak government should provide equal opportunity to both rural and urban school children to access a high standard of education.
“The objective of choosing English as the medium of instruction is not only to allow children to master the English language but also in keeping up-to-date with the constant education development around the world.
“There is no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to education syllabuses as these have been well developed by countries which have carried out advanced research on education. The results of a good and advanced education system can be seen from the progress made by these countries in their economic frontiers and breakthrough in their technological capabilities and stretching and expansion of the limits of their minds,” he opined.
Tenewi added, there is no time to waste on delivering a high standard of education to all Sarawakians in view of the state’s comparative lag with global progress.
Meanwhile, Tenewi also lauded Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Datuk Seri Michael Manyin’s stand on education in Sarawak, and fully supports the vision and intention of the Sarawak government in trying to bring a high standard of education within the reach of every Sarawakian.
According to Tenewi, the Sarawak government has demonstrated its political will to bring about major changes to Sarawak education by taking the first step in realising its vision by planning to establish five international schools in Sarawak, which is a highly commendable act by the Sarawak government.
“Under Article 17 (a) in the Report of the Inter-Governmental Committee 1962 (IGC Report 1962), the jurisdiction on “education” effectively lies within the power of the Sarawak government and Article 17(a)(i) clearly stated that “the present policy in the Borneo States regarding the use of English should continue.
“The statement by Professor Dr Teo Kok Seong on the illegality of the initiatives of the Sarawak government to build and run international schools is therefore clearly baseless,” he added.
“TSI would also like to request the Sarawak government to implement the English language as the medium of instruction either under the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) or the Cambridge programmes for all subjects for the kindergarten and the primary school levels as well.
“It is important to train and educate the young learning minds during these formative years, and many international schools in Sarawak are using the Cambridge programmes for the kindergarten and primary schools levels. Sarawakians definitely do not want their young children to be deprived of quality education during their formative years,” added Tenewi. — DayakDaily
