SDNU Sibu urges schools with sizeable number of Iban students to open Iban language classes

POCEM participants giving their thumbs-up to the programme.

SIBU, Dec 11: Schools with a good number of Iban students are urged to open Iban language classes.

Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) Sibu chairman Chambai Lindong said he has high hopes that this could be implemented.

“We hope that schools through their school heads can open Iban language classes if their schools have enough students to study the subject,” he said at the Pupil Academic Excellence Programme (POCEM) for the Iban Language Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination at Dewan Wawasan SMK Sungai Merah here yesterday.

Chambai also that the government will hire Iban language teachers from the Malaysian Teachers’ Institute (IPG) to provide enough teaching staff for schools.

“This is in line with SDNU Sibu’s mission to always defend our nation’s heritage so that it is not lost to time,” he stressed.

Touching on POCEM, he said, it is SDNU Sibu’s social responsibility in developing the Iban community, especially the development of the Iban language in schools.

Therefore, he hoped that the participants would take advantage of the programme by learning the Iban language exam format for SPM and further increase their self-motivation in the subject.

POCEM was organised by SDNU Sibu in collaboration with the District Education Office (PPD) of Sibu and Kanowit with the theme ‘Jaku Lati, Bansa Pegari’.

A total of 167 students who are sitting for the Iban language subject in SPM and 20 teachers from 11 secondary schools participated in the programme.

The schools participating were 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 and SDNU Sibu Education Bureau Head Johnady Janton as well as three programme speakers. — DayakDaily