I was browsing Borneo Post online this morning. I found this article about my longhouse. Dated December 2nd, 2007.
Set target to produce more graduates
By Gaing Kunding
Salang says longhouse chiefs should work systematically to achieve the aim to produce at least a graduate per family
SIBU: Iban longhouse chiefs should set a target of their own on the number of graduates and professionals their longhouse can produce by the year 2020.
In making the call yesterday, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Joseph Salang said after setting the target, they should work systematically towards achieving the aim, consistent with the community’s aspiration to produce at least a graduate per family.
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Salang was speaking at a ceremony to welcome the village security and development committee (JKKK) members of Uma Belun, a Kayan longhouse in Sungai Asap in Belaga who visited Rumah Genta Sabut, Nanga Bilat at Km17.5 Jalan Julau-Entabai, about one-and-a half hours’ drive from here.
“All longhouses should have their own yardstick consistent with the aspiration of our community and leaders to have at least a graduate per family by the year 2020.
“We should therefore plan, organise, evaluate periodically and work systematically towards achieving this objective at our own longhouse.
Salang said they could start with children who were in Primary 4 and above by nurturing and guiding them in the right direction and by providing a conducive learning environment at home.
“This can lead us to achieve our target or even surpass it,” the deputy minister said, adding that the effort called for great patience and perseverance on the part of parents, teachers and the students themselves.
He said to become a successful and developed community in all aspects, they needed to take their children’s education seriously.
In his speech, the leader of the visitors Ellison Ludan Muyan said the 105-door Uma Belun had set a target to produce at least 80 graduates by 2020.
“Part of our programme to realise this goal is by coming up with a uniform time table for children to do their revision and study at home.
“During that period TVs and radios will not be switched on in the entire longhouse,” said Ludan, a lecturer with Curtin University of Technology Miri.
Ludan who hails from Sungai Ngemah, Kanowit is married to a woman from Uma Belun.
A total of 35 JKKK members of Uma Belun, including their chief Maren Uma Ding Ajang visited the 14-door longhouse.
They were welcomed by Genta and his longhouse JKKK members.
More than 23 longhouse chiefs from nearby areas as well as several Serakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS) Julau branch leaders were also present.
The objective of the goodwill visit, among other things, was to foster closer co-operation between the two communities.
