Japanese delegation visits S’wak Education Dept
KUCHING: A 12- member goodwill educational delegation from Japan paid a courtesy visit to the State Education Department yesterday.
Led by Tokyo Private JuniorSenior High Schools Association director and St Hilda’s School headmaster Hiroshi Suzuki, the group was welcomed by State Education deputy director Abang Mat Ali Abang Masagus.
In his speech, Abang Mat Ali said that the department was greatly honoured to be one of the parties in the international affiliate programme, organised by Japan- Malaysia Association (JMA).
“I believe such collaboration between countries not only foster greater foreign ministry affairs but also will continue to flourish the intellectual exchange between parties that are involved, in this case, of educational practices.
“The State Education Department always believes in placing strong emphasis on educational equality and strives to deliver the best possible education for every student regardless of ethnicity, geographical location or socio- economic background,” he said.
Abang Mat Ali briefed the visitors about the organisational structure of the department as well as the total number of schools in the state.
He also explained about the education systems at the preschool, primary and secondary levels, as well as the education pathway that Malaysian students generally take and the examinations that they have to sit for.
He added there have been intercultural exchange programmes at Sarawakian schools in collaboration with JMA since 2014, with a treeplanting project by Mitsubishi at SK St Norbert Paon Gahat, Serian; a homestay programme for young Japanese students at SK Jalan Muara Tuang, Samarahan in 2015; and an intercultural exchange programme at SK St Norbert Paon Gahat last year.
Just earlier this month, a few pupils from SK Krait and SK St Norbert Paon Gahat were selected to go on a cultural exchange programme to Hara Elementary School in Hiroshima, western Japan.
Meanwhile, JMA educational exchange advisor Yoshihito Irie said the Japanese are interested to conduct more activities with Sarawak to introduce and learn about each other’s cultures.
“We want Japanese students to know about other cultures in the world. We conducted 150 school trips to Peninsular Malaysia last year, but have only been to five to six schools in East Malaysia, which is why we are keen for more exchange programmes here,” he explained.
After the visit to the State Education Department, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Sarawak Tourism Board, followed by a tour of Semenggoh Wildlife Centre.
The delegates are in Kuching for a six- day visit. They will be taking part in a tree- planting project with local communities at Gunung Apeng Forest Reserve near Serian today ( March 28).