KUCHING: School principals and the government must share the same aim, the same aspiration to push Sarawak forward.
“For example, the implementation of the Sarawak Dual Language Programmes that will fully begin in 2020 for Year 1. All administrators and teachers should give their full support without doubts and disputes,” said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg yesterday at the 54th Sarawak Secondary School Principals Association Education Management Conference here.
His text of speech was presented by Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong.
Abang Johari stressed: “Similarly, other education programmes such as Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics, Upholding the Malay Language and Strengthening Command of English and others should be supported to make sure the success of the programmes.”
“Our world is now facing a rapid change driven by advances in information and communication technology and for us to be able to leverage on the rapid development of technology and access to global markets, an important prerequisite is a good command of English,” he elaborated.
“That is why the state has decided to develop digital economy as a game-changer for Sarawak’s future and an agenda that the state government is strongly focused on.”
“Two key features of the digital economy are, it is driven by technology and it transcends borders and deals with global markets,” he said.
Abang Johari added that Sarawak must have businesses and a workforce that could take advantage of the unprecedented economic development across the globe.
“For this to happen, our workforce must not only have the necessary technical skills but must also be proficient in English.
“In an era where everything and everyone is interconnected, proficiency in the English language is necessary for accessing information, understanding and adopting new technologies, exploiting opportunities in international economies, excelling in knowledge domains and succeeding in global markets,” he said.
“English is the lingua franca of the Internet and the means by which children and youths from all over the world communicate ideas, values and visions of a future which will affect them.”
