Latest news with #AnnuarRapaee
The Star
12-06-2025
- General
- The Star
Upgrades for Nangka longhouses
Dr Annuar (standing) during the Gawai Dayak celebration at Rumah Maxwell in Sibu. The ruai and tanju (communal areas) of all 34 longhouses within the Nangka state constituency will be upgraded, says Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee. The Sarawak Education, Innovation and Talent Development Deputy Minister said works would be carried out in stages in line with available funding. 'We will proceed gradually,' said Dr Annuar, who is also Nangka assemblyman. 'There are 34 longhouses in Nangka, and I will endeavour to upgrade the ruai and tanju bit by bit. 'This is because my yearly allocation is only about RM5mil, which must be distributed according to needs across the entire constituency,' he said during the 2025 Gawai Ngabang Programme at Rumah Maxwell in Oya Road, Sibu. Dr Annuar noted that three longhouses in the area still lacked access to clean water due to their remote location, and said this issue would be addressed in stages. Commenting on the Gawai Dayak celebration, Dr Annuar said the festival was a testament to Sarawak's harmonious multi-ethnic society. 'Gawai Dayak is not only celebrated by the Dayak community but also embraced by all ethnic groups in Sarawak. 'This is what makes Sarawak special. We must safeguard this spirit,' he said. During his visit, Dr Annuar also handed over loudspeakers, an audio system and fire extinguishers to residents of Rumah Maxwell. — By ANDY CHUA
Borneo Post
11-06-2025
- Borneo Post
English education must evolve with technology, says S'wak minister
Teachers from Sarawak northern zone participating in Seles. BINTULU (June 11): English is not just an academic subject in school, but a gateway to global knowledge, science and technology and opportunity, said Sarawak Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn. 'As we strive to build a competitive and innovative Sarawak, equipping our teachers with relevant skills – especially in digital-age pedagogy – is non-negotiable. 'As technology continues to shape the way we live, it must also transform the way we educate,' he said in his text speech read by his deputy minister, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, when officiating the opening ceremony of the 'Sarawak English Language Education Symposium (Seles) 2025' here today. According to Sagah, teaching and learning can no longer remain static, especially since digital tools, AI (artificial intelligence), gamification and online platforms are not mere trends but teaching essentials. He added this year's theme 'Igniting Minds: English Language Learning in the Digital Age' reflected the urgent need to rethink and reimagine how to teach and learn English. He noted Seles began in 2017 as a large-scale initiative, bringing together over 1,000 English language educators from across Sarawak. 'In recent years, Seles has evolved into a more focused and customised platform, designed to support teachers through the sharing of best practices and localised content that can be readily applied in their own classrooms and schools. 'For us at the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Seles is more than just a symposium – it is a strategic investment in our teachers, schools, and future generation.' He hoped the three-day symposium would be able to deepen the teachers' understanding of technology-enhanced English language teaching. 'We also hope it will encourage greater innovation in the classroom, inspiring educators to explore new strategies and tools in adapting to the needs of today's learners. 'Ultimately, we believe that initiatives like Seles will help raise the overall standard of English language education throughout Sarawak, aligning our practices with global trends while remaining grounded in local values and realities,' he said. He added the ministry remains fully committed to supporting this transformation through programmes like Seles, as part of its broader mission to build sustainable and future-ready human capital for Sarawak. 'Our teachers are the key to that mission and we will continue to invest in their growth and success,' he said. English Roland Sagah Seles technology
Borneo Post
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Dr Annuar challenges teachers to lead English education reform in Sarawak
Dr Annuar (seated centre) joins educators for a group photo during the opening ceremony of Seles 2025. BINTULU (June 11): Sarawak Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, has challenged English teachers statewide to create a holistic working paper aimed at transforming English education in the state . 'It is a very simple topic, but I want you to be more honest and more comprehensive. I want you (teachers) to come up with a programme on how to improve teaching amongst yourselves as well as learning amongst our students,' he said during the opening ceremony of the Sarawak English Language Education Symposium (Seles) 2025 here today. Dr Annuar was representing State Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn. He said the Sarawak government was moving away from a top-down approach, and emphasised the need for grassroots input and empowerment of front-line educators. 'We don't want to tell you what to do – we want you to tell us what you need. If we can support it, we will. That's better than asking you to do what you don't want to do.' Dr Annuar said that excessive top-down mandates have contributed to teacher burnout and a loss of focus on core teaching duties, with too much energy being spent on administrative documentation rather than classroom instruction. Reflecting on Seles' nine-year journey, Dr Annuar said the initiative had grown significantly and it was time for critical self-assessment. 'If we had a child nine years ago, they would be in Primary 3 now. From not being able to speak, now they can speak fluently, and Seles should be the same with visible success. 'Thus, the 10th symposium next year must be a turning point – a time to evaluate progress, identify gaps and establish a strong foundation for the next phase,' he said. Dr Annuar said with the Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) rolling out next year, students with a poor command of English risk being left behind. 'If our students can't speak English well, they may not benefit from FTES. That's why your role as teachers, both in primary and secondary schools, is crucial,' he said. He voiced particular concern for rural students, many of whom only encounter English in the classroom due to limited exposure at home and in their communities. 'We must prepare them properly. We've moved beyond debating why we need to emphasise English. Now it's about how we do it.' Meanwhile, the ministry's permanent secretary Adana Jed said about 200 teachers from across the northern zone of Sarawak, representing eight district Education Offices, participated in Seles 2025. He said the symposium brought together English language teachers and education officers from across Sarawak to share ideas and good practices in teaching English. 'Education is changing with the times. As technology becomes a big part of our daily lives, our English teaching must also grow and improve, not just to keep up, but to lead the way,' he said. The highlights of the three-day symposium include a keynote address by Prof Vincent Lee from Curtin University Malaysia, who will share valuable insights on English education; and two plenary sessions by the Sarawak Education Department's Learning Sector senior principal assistant director Eileen Jessie Ah Guan and SK Ulu Lubai teacher Nicholas Anderson Lim. Bintulu dr annuar rapaee education English Seles
Borneo Post
22-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sarawak's free tertiary education scheme paves way for skilled workforce by 2030, says Dr Annuar
Dr Annuar says the free education policy is also specifically designed to ensure that graduates are highly employable, with a focus on STEM-based courses, as well as professional fields such as accounting and finance. – The Borneo Post photo KUCHING (May 22): The state government continues to strengthen its commitment to human capital development through the implementation of the Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES), which is seen as a key catalyst in achieving the target of 30 per cent highly skilled workforce by 2030, in line with the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030. According to Deputy State Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, the scheme not only opens up educational opportunities for students from low-income families, but also supports the growth of strategic sectors such as the digital economy, green economy, aerospace, and renewable energy. 'This policy is a noble one as it not only helps underprivileged students to further their education, but also has the potential to completely eliminate the need for them to incur debt after graduation. 'In addition, university enrolment is bound to increase, and this in turn will reduce our dependence on foreign workers in those fields,' he said in response to a question from Dato Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman (GPS-Tupong) at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here today. Dr Annuar highlighted that under the FTES, the Sarawak government offers free tuition at state-owned universities. Additionally, students from families with a per capita income of RM1,500 or below will receive a living allowance of RM15,000 per year, which covers accommodation, meals, and basic student necessities, he said. 'I would like to clarify here that the RM15,000 allocation is separate from the RM1,200 Special Government Assistance (BKK) given to all Sarawakian students in higher learning institutions, regardless of family income.' He added that this free education policy is also specifically designed to ensure that graduates are highly employable, with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-based courses, as well as professional fields such as accounting and finance. 'We do not want to produce unemployed graduates simply because their field of study does not match market demands. This free education scheme is targeted at fields that are relevant to current labour market demands in Sarawak,' he said. He also said this initiative can help address the issue of students being offered courses they are not interested in through the Central University Admission Unit (UPU), particularly due to stiff competition in public universities. 'With the existence of state-owned universities and financial support from FTES, more students can pursue studies in fields they are passionate about and which match their individual potential,' he said. dr annuar rapaee DUN free tertiary education lead
The Star
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Sarawak free tertiary study scheme to fulfil 2030 workforce needs, says state deputy education minister
The Sarawak Legislative Assembly complex in Kuching. KUCHING: Sarawak's free tertiary education scheme aims to meet the state's workforce needs in high-skill sectors towards achieving developed status by 2030, says Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee. The state Deputy Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister said this was in line with Sarawak's target of having 30% of its workforce highly skilled in digital economy, green economy, aerospace and renewable energy. "One key indicator of the scheme is that it will assist students, especially those from lower-income families, to enter university, resulting in higher enrolment in our state-owned universities. "This will also reduce our dependence on foreign labour in these important fields," he told Datuk Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman (GPS-Tupong) during question time in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Thursday (May 22). The free tertiary education scheme, to be implemented from 2026, will fully cover tuition fees for eligible Sarawakian students at state-owned higher learning institutions comprising Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak, Curtin University of Malaysia, University Technology of Sarawak and i-CATS University College. The approved programmes under the scheme include undergraduate degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Law, Medical, Accounting and Finance. Dr Annuar said STEM-related and professional courses were offered under the scheme to meet Sarawak's workforce needs. "If we open up the scheme for every course, it might produce unemployed graduates. "We need to match the courses offered under the scheme with the demands of the job market," he said. More importantly, he added, the scheme would ensure that graduates were not in debt upon completing their studies as they would have no student loans to repay. Besides covering tuition fees, he said the state government would provide a yearly stipend of RM15,000 to students from households with a per capita income of RM1,500 and below. "This is meant to assist them in terms of accommodation and other living expenses," he said. To complement the scheme, Dr Annuar also said the state government had allocated RM20mil for the Sarawak educational enhancement programme to provide free tuition to students from Form Three to Form Five. He said this would help them achieve the necessary qualifications to pursue STEM-related and professional courses at state-owned institutions. "We believe this programme will help rural students in particular to benefit from the free tertiary education scheme," he said.
