Call on Padum, other Dayak NGOs to form think tank to address rural students’ challenges

KUCHING (Jan 5): Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas has called on the Persatuan Alumni Dayak Universiti Malaya (Padum) and other Dayak non-governmental organisations to form a think tank committee to address educational challenges faced by rural students, particularly in ensuring they qualify for the state’s Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES).

He said this was crucial to prevent students from remote and rural areas from being left behind when FTES comes into effect this year.

“The committee must look into the real challenges faced by students in the interior, whether in academic performance, career exposure or their readiness to meet entry requirements for programmes offered by Sarawak-owned universities.

“We must find ways and methods to improve the performance of rural students so that they qualify and are not left behind in enjoying the benefits of FTES,” he said at Padum’s dinner held at the Sarawak Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) building here last Saturday.

Uggah, who is also Padum patron, pointed out that FTES covers Sarawakian students studying at Sarawak-owned institutions namely Curtin University Malaysia, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, i-CATS University College and Universiti Teknologi Sarawak, involving 64 courses aligned with the state’s new economic direction, including engineering, medical, technical and professional fields.

He commended Padum for sustaining its operations over the past 12 years under the leadership of chairman Cooplay Ngipa Aji, including the association’s achievement in acquiring a shoplot in MJC Batu Kawa as its office.

To further strengthen Padum’s operations, Uggah announced that he would fund two full-time staff to manage the association’s office.

At the dinner, certificates were presented to 11 life members, seven ordinary members and 26 Padum incentive recipients for SPM and STPM achievements as well as admissions into higher learning institutions.