Issue of rural Dayak students’ inability to read, write after primary school needed to be addressed

From left: Cooplay, Nelson, Uggah, Marie Joanna and Doreen blowing off the candles on PADUM's 10th anniversay cake at the event on Nov 12, 2023.

KUCHING, Nov 13: There are Dayak students in rural areas who could not read, write or calculate after five or six years of primary education.

Pointing out this painful fact, Deputy Premier of Sarawak Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said this is among the social problems faced by the community, apart from the reluctance of parents in allowing their children to stay as boarders.

“As boarders, the students will have a very conducive studying environment with rules to follow and they will be well taken care of.

“They will not face many distractions like using their handphones most of the time or even become involved in social problems like drug-taking and alcoholism,” he said during Universiti Malaya Dayak Alumni Association’s (PADUM) 10th anniversary dinner last night (Nov 12).

He thus called on the Association to help find solutions to the issues faced by some rural Dayak students, suggesting that they could organise seminars and workshops to show ways for Dayaks to venture into the business world.

“PADUM could do this as it had among its members many doctors, lawyers, engineers, businessmen and businesswomen, senior civil servants and others. You have a very good mix and this is a great image for PADUM.

“We must ensure our community will seize opportunities available especially with the creation of the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.

“Some of us have done very well in the oil palm cultivation and this goes to show that we are just as capable as the others,” he added.

At the function, Uggah announced a grant of RM50,000 to PADUM to allow the Association to provide incentives for Dayak students in Universiti Malaya and another RM100,000 for the Association’s year-long activities.

Uggah’s wife Datu Doreen Mayang, PADUM president Cooplay Nyipa Aji, Senator Rita Insol, organising chairperson Marie Joanna Buma and Kuching Division Dayak paramount chief Temenggong Nelson Kloni were among those present. – DayakDaily