SIBU, Nov 17: Construction work on Yayasan Sarawak International secondary school, Sibu had kicked off with ground preparation work.
The project is located on the runway of the old Sibu airport adjacent to Kolej Laila Taib and opposite the University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS).
According to the project signage put up last week, work started on Nov 16 and is expected to be completed on April 15 next year.
The project has drawn excitement among the locals.
A headmistress of a primary school who wished to remain anonymous welcomed the project.
“It is good news as poor students can now study in an international school,” she opined.
Single mother Pearly Leong whose son is currently studying in an international school hoped to enrol her son who is currently in Form 1 or Year 7 to continue his secondary education at the Yayasan Sarawak international secondary school; however, she will need to consider several factors such as affordability and syllabus offered.
Meanwhile shipping executive Albert Tay, 54, however, hoped to obtain more details about the project and the school.
“Nothing much has been given out concerning it,” he said.
The school is one of four such international schools to be set up by Yayasan Sarawak. The other three are in Kuching, Miri and Bintulu respectively and will offer the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) by Cambridge Assessment International Education Board.
Education, Science and Technological Research Minister, Datuk Seri Michael Manyin recently said that the schools will cater for students from Year 7 to Year 11, or Form 1 to Form 5, and will offer a range of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities geared towards character development.
He said besides IGCSE, students will also be prepared to take Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations as private candidates.
“This will ensure that our students will have the option to enter quality overseas institutions with their IGCSE certificate or enter local universities with their SPM certificate. This is also to give the opportunity to our students to obtain the necessary credit in SPM Bahasa Malaysia to qualify for employment in the government sector,” he added. — DayakDaily
