KGBS: Provide infrastructure to expand use of English in schools

SIBU: Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union ( KGBS) is urging the Ministry of Educat ion, Science and Technological Research to provide suitable infrastructure to expand the use of English language in schools across Sarawak.

Its president Ahmad Malie said this was important to inculcate interest and expedite the mastery of English among students.

“By mastering the language, students will be able to explore their surrounding because most knowledge whether physical or in cyber form, are mostly in English,” he said when contacted yesterday.

He was commenting on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s recent statement that the emphasis on English proficiency by the Sarawak government was to enable Sarawakians to take on Industrial Revolution 4.0 with competit ive edge and confidence.

Abang Johari said it was essential that the people had the talents, knowledge and communication skills needed to ride the waves of Industry 4.0

Of f iciating at the second edition of Sarawak English Language Education Symposium ( Seles) 2018 in Miri recently, the chief minister said that good command of the international lingua franca ( English) would enable researches to be done on science and technology to provide the cutting- edge for Sarawakians.

On this, Ahmad said: “As an education- based organisation, KGBS ful ly supp or t s the chief mini s t e r ’ s c a l l for Sarawakians to master English as a second language for daily communication and eventually to take on the waves of Industrial Revolution 4.0.”

He thus hoped Sarawakians would respond to Abang Johari’s cal l and strive to upgrade t hemselves to master t he language besides adding value to themselves.

“As a f irst step therefore, students should be the key focus to realise this intention,” he added.