KUCHING: English literacy and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education are vital in shaping Sarawak’s economic future, says Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Deputy Minister Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu.
With Sarawak’s population of only three million, he stressed the need to develop local talent to prevent external dependence.
“Thus, the Layar Education Development Committee (LEDC) is taking the efforts to organise the first of its kind Sarawak English Literary Conference (SELC) 2025.
“We combine our efforts to build a brighter future for Sarawak and all these efforts all go back to the African proverb ‘It takes a whole village to raise a child’,” he explained.
He said this in a press conference on the upcoming conference at Business Event Sarawak’s (BESarawak) office here today (Mar 18).
Rentap, who is also the LEDC patron, said there are still challenges faced in the rural areas especially where the performance of science and mathematics subjects are still weak.
He added education must go beyond English literacy to include STEM, ensuring that Sarawakian students are well-equipped for the future job market.
With rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology, he stressed the importance of blending traditional and digital learning methods.
“If we can integrate both methods, we can produce better learners who can adapt faster to the changing technological landscape,” he said.
Rentap also noted that experience, reading, and continuous learning are key factors in developing individuals who can make sound judgments in an increasingly complex world.
Meanwhile, LEDC, has been involved in education projects focused on Jolly Phonics, a programme for teaching reading and writing, since 2019.
The effort is to enhance education standards in Layar constituency.
