KUCHING: The teaching fraternity in Sarawak has been reminded to keep up with global developments to stay relevant in the world of education.
Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Roland Sagah who gave the reminder said if teachers are not up to speed on knowledge, the nation and the state will not be able to compete with other developed countries around the world.
“If that happens, we will always be practitioners of knowledge instead of pioneers of new knowledge.
“How then will Sarawakians help the government in its effort to become the main producer of hydrogen if we do not have our own scientists or experts in that field due to our own education system?
“That is why this particular matter is the challenge for teachers today. However, I am confident that with the presence of teachers under the Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU), it is not impossible for us to be pioneers of new knowledge,” he said.
He said this on behalf of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at the opening of STU’s 26th Biennial Delegates Conference at Grand Margherita Hotel on Saturday (Sept 3).
He emphasised that the Sarawak government has always cooperated in supporting the national education agenda.
This is to ensure Sarawak can compete with the education agenda at the national level as well as to create opportunities for the younger generation in Sarawak, he said.
“Furthermore, with the help of the State Education Department and STU being able to mobilise their 28,000 members throughout Sarawak, I am confident that our teachers here are able to improve their professionalism to compete with fellow teachers at the global level,” he said.
Sagah expressed confidence that teachers will be able to make students in Sarawak be able to compete with nations around the world.
In this respect, he also emphasised Sarawak’s need for teachers who can build the ability and competence of students in the subject areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
“This is because we want Sarawak to have cyberpower and brain power in particular to move Sarawak to be a developed state by the year 2030.
“For that, I would like to call on STU members to continue to be a model and give confidence to all teachers in Sarawak so that the education agenda in Sarawak can be implemented with excellence.
“If all STU members can be the drivers of quality education in Sarawak, I am confident that we will be able to improve the performance of our students no matter where they are,” he said.
