‘Cambridge’s ICT Starters aims to empower rural students’
BINTULU: A total of 239 pupils from five primary schools here have received their Cambridge ICT Starters ( CIS) certificates, after completing the programme last year.
Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh handed over the certificates to the young participants from SK Kuala Nyalau, SK Sungai Silas, SK Ulu Segan, SK Pandan and SK Kelawit on Wednesday.
Len Talif, who is Kuala Rajang assemblyman, represented Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at the ceremony.
The CIS programme was jointly conducted by Lembaga Kumpulan Wang Kawasan Konsesi Hutan and Danawa Education Sdn Bhd.
“We are very proud of the students who joined in this programme – congratulations to all of you for your hard work. This is just a beginning of your journey towards a new future and the possibility is beyond our expectations,” Danawa Education chairman Datuk Amar Abdul Hamed Sepawi said in his remarks.
He then elaborated on the background of the CIS programme, which was introduced primarily to create greater awareness of the information and communications technology ( ICT) in schoolchildren and also to empower them with the relevant skills for continuous self-learning.
He said other objectives of the CIS were to conduct formal ICT assessments, as well as to assist the state government in ensuring that school- children in rural and suburban areas would not be left behind in the wave of technology advancements.
Abdul Hamed said in addition
We are very proud of the students who joined in this programme – congratulations to all of you for your hard work. This is just a beginning of your journey towards a new future and the possibility is beyond our expectations.
to ICT knowledge, the children would also be exposed to 21st century literacy including communications skills, problem- solving through team collaboration, building selfconfidence during presentation of works, and critical thinking during the process of making analysis.
Moreover, it also reinforced the development and use of the English language among school- children in the rural areas, he added.
“We hope that this exposure would motivate the children to be more interested in ICT and other science subjects as they graduate into secondary school.
“In Sarawak, we are very fortunate because of the commitment of the state government in providing high quality education to our children, especially those in the rural areas.
“It is a big challenge for us to ensure how we can maximise our resources to benefit our young people, both in the urban and rural areas,” he said, pointing out that the CIS is a recognised and accredited programme with the same quality of the Cambridge Assessment and International Education, UK.
Abdul Hamed was also pleased to hear that based on the feedback, the children were very passionate about the programme.
“Our students can make positive changes. They can be empowered to be the instruments of change within their communities,” he said.
Abdul Hamed also expressed his hope for the state government to continueinvestinginICTeducation – a move that would help achieve its digital transformation.
Danawa Education is an appointed ‘Cambridge Associate’ by Cambridge International Examinations, UK and the main distributor of the CIS programme in Malaysia.
Assistant Minister of Native Laws and Customs Datuk John Sikie Tayai, Samalaju assemblyman Majang Renggi, Bintulu Resident Jack Aman Luat, Lembaga Kumpulan Wang Kawasan Konsesi Hutan secretary Dr Wan Liz Ozman Wan Omar, and Cambridge Assessment International Education Malaysia and Brunei director Ng Kim Huat were also present at the function.
Datuk Amar Abdul Hamed Sepawi, Danawa Education chairman