THE number of Bumiputera students enrolling into Chinese primary schools in Sarawak is on the rise, signalling their faith in the quality of education in these schools that are aided by the Government.
Chairman of the Association of Chinese Aided Primary Schools Management Board for Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Divisions, Datuk Jonathan Chai cited the example of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Chung Hua in Sarawak.
"SJKC Chung Hua has some 60,000 primary pupils throughout Sarawak.
"Out of this number, 38 per cent are children from Bumiputra communities.
"This number is way above the national figure of 20 per cent average Bumiputera students in Chinese schools at the national level.
"This is a sign that the confidence placed by the people at large in the quality of Chinese education in Sarawak is high," he said when attending an anniversary gathering of SJKC Chung Hua in Kuching.
Chai said the association hopes the Sarawak state government will continue to provide financial assistance to help Chinese schools expand.
Chinese education in Sarawak was given a major lift by the late Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem, who before his demise in 2017, approved annual funds for all Chinese schools in Sarawak.
He also approved the official recognition of the Chinese exam certificate - Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) - and allowed UEC to be used as entry into the Sarawak Civil Service.
The late Adenan, when he was chief minister from 2014 to 2017, was also the first government head to allocate fixed annual financial budgets to Chinese independent schools, said the association's Board of Management chairman Temenggong Datuk Vincent Lau.
Speaking at the Sibu Chinese Education Hall gathering, he praised the late Adenan for having the courage to accord official government recognition to Chinese education, and in the process transformed the image of Chinese education permanently.
"Tan Sri Adenan had left behind a legacy that will not be forgotten among the Chinese education arena in Sarawak.
Lau said the Chinese community will always be indebted to the late Adenan for bringing up the image of Chinese schools and giving state support to Chinese education policies.
That had led to even more Bumiputra students enrolling in Chinese schools and qualifying with very good results, he said. - October 5, 2024
