SIBU: The Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) Sibu has urged schools in Sarawak with a significant number of Iban students to consider conducting Iban language classes.
Sibu SDNU chairman Chambai Lindong said this initiative aligns with Sibu SDNU’s mission to preserve and promote the heritage of the Iban.
“We also hope that the government will hire Iban language teachers from the Malaysian Teachers Institute (IPG) to provide enough teaching staff for schools.”
He made this statement at the Pupil Academic Excellence Programme (POCEM) in the Iban Language Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) at Dewan Wawasan SMK Sungai Merah here recently.
Speaking about POCEM, Chambai expressed that it is Sibu SDNU’s social responsibility to contribute to the development of the Iban, particularly focusing on the enhancement of the Iban language in schools.
He encouraged participants to leverage the programme to familiarise themselves with the Iban language exam format at the SPM level, fostering increased self-motivation in the subject.
A total of 167 students and 20 teachers from 11 secondary schools participating in the Iban language subject in SPM joined the programme organised by Sibu SDNU in collaboration with the District Education Office (PPD) Sibu and Kanowit, under the theme ‘Jaku Lati, Bansa Pegari’.
Participating schools included SMK Sungai Merah, SMK Rosli Dhoby, SMK Bukit Assek, SMK Jalan Oya, SMK Luar Bandar, SMK Sibu Jaya, SMK Bawang Assan, SMK Durin, SMK Kanowit, SMK Nanga Dap and SMK Sedaya.
Also present at the programme were Sibu PPD representative John Francis Untam, Kanowit PPD representative Stanley Beti Baling, SMK Sungai Merah principal’s representative, Sibu SDNU Education Bureau head Johnady Janton and others.
