KUCHING: A decision by the state government to set up five residential international schools accommodating between 3,000 and 5,000 students has been described as a ‘master stroke’ resolution.
“It’s a brilliant, smart, practical, doable and a futuristic move,” said the president of Orang Ulu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OUCCI) Mutang Tagal (pic) in a statement issued to the media.
Last Saturday, during an agreement signing ceremony between Saradise Sdn Bhd and Borneo International School (BIS) at Saradise Gallery, Jalan Song, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg revealed that the state would build the schools, not to compete with the centre but to provide high quality schools for smart kids including those from the rural areas to follow international curriculum.
Mutang noted that the move took into consideration the policy and desire of the state to embrace digital technology, advanced and better use of big data for e-commerce and business to leapfrog the state into a fully advanced and industrialised economy by 2030.
The government’s stated desire to learn and utilise artificial intelligence in the development of the state in all sectors should be welcomed by all, he said.
As the president of the chamber he was heartened to know that the five international residential schools would become avenues for smart students from the rural areas beginning from Form 1 to study in an ecosystem where the syllabus is accredited by world renowned Cambridge International Education UK.
While the focus is on academic excellence and intellectual enrichment, the syllabus would also include soft skills subjects such as the arts and design, drama, music, robotics, artificial intelligence, etc.
He hoped more smart native students would be admitted to these residential international schools because Sarawak needs lots of smart professionals in all fields such as engineering, computers, information technology, law, medicine, architecture, music, drama, film making, science, biotechnology, dentistry, economics, finance, artificial intelligence, etc.
“It is a hope of our chamber that these rural students would be qualified to study in Ivy League universities of the world such as Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, MIT, Princeton, etc,” Mutang said.
