KUCHING: Strengthening bilingualism helps students today to prepare themselves into entering the career world.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said in Sarawak, the state has the privilege of having both English and Bahasa Melayu as the official languages.
He said the state is also ahead of others as the people here can effectively communicate in both languages.
“When we successfully got permission to continue teaching Mathematics and Science in English, it was not just to improve our children’s mastery of the language.
“We want to make sure that what our children study Mathematics and Science in English, they can then use not just in school or to pass an exam, but also in their careers or in any profession they decide to choose.
“For some, their chosen career could require them to interact and communicate with someone outside of Malaysia. English is a universal language. We must ensure that our children master the language,” he said at the prize presentation ceremony for the Premier’s English and Bahasa Melayu Debate Challenge for Secondary Schools and Institutes of Higher Learning Sarawak 2023 at Borneo Cultures Museum Auditorium, today (Nov 8).
His text of speech was read by Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) Datuk Dr Annuar Rapa’ee.
Abang Johari added that once the children have mastered the language of Mathematics and Science, he said the government would ensure that they venture into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related professions.
“As we continue to journey in the 21st century, Sarawak needs to be competitive and unique. We have led the way with our hydrogen industry, our Dual Language Programme, and our quest for what is owed to us under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63)
“We need to keep working together to achieve our aim of creating a forward-thinking Sarawak in which our youth can propel Sarawak to greater heights,” he said.
On the debate, he said it effectively promoted debating and critical thinking skills among the youths in both languages as such skills are very important in the competitive world today.
“Our children need to know how to not just accept any news they read or hear, but they need to be able to evaluate the issues and content of the news and decide on the reliability and validity of it.
“There are too many things going on in our world today where people read something and they react to it without thinking or looking into it deeper.
“Hopefully, as more of our children get involved in activities like debating, they will learn to digest any materials they read or hear and be able to critically assess what they have read or heard,” he said.
In the English debate for secondary schools category, two teams from St Joseph’s Private Secondary School took first and second places respectively, followed by SMK Green Road in third place and Lodge National School placed fourth.
Meanwhile, for the Institutes of Higher Learning category, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) clinched the first place, followed by Batu Lintang Teachers’ Training College in second while Curtin University and Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus scored third and fourth places respectively.
As for Bahasa Melayu debate for secondary schools category, SMK Baru Bintulu emerged victorious, while Yayasan Sarawak International Secondary School was placed second, followed by SMK Sri Aman and Kolej Tun Datu Tuanku Haji Bujang, Miri in third and fourth places.
Also present were MEITD’s permanent secretary Datuk Azmi Bujang, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Malaysia director-general Dr Hazami Jahari and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Sarawak branch director Abang Haliman Abang Julai.
