KUCHING: The Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) is seeking formal recognition for the Bidayuh language as an elective subject in Bidayuh-majority primary schools.
Its president Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik said curriculum development under the association’s Bidayuh Language Development Programme has already progressed up to Primary Three.
“Our dream is to get it formally endorsed by the Ministry of Education as an elective subject in Bidayuh-majority primary schools in Bidayuh areas,” he said during the welcoming dinner held in conjunction with the 11th DBNA Triennial General Assembly (TGA) at the DBNA Headquarters Multipurpose Hall on Friday night (May 8).
Ik Pahon said the effort is being implemented through the Mother Language Education (MLE) and Kurikulum Bahasa Bidayuh (KBB) programmes aimed at conserving, preserving and documenting the language.
He said preserving and documenting the Bidayuh language remains among DBNA’s key priorities moving forward.
According to him, the programme would first involve Primary One to Primary Three pupils if approval is obtained.
Ik Pahon added that DBNA remains concerned about education and the future of younger generations within the Bidayuh community.
He also stressed the importance of adapting to rapid technological and social changes while preserving cultural identity.
“How can we leverage on technology and social media to achieve our community and association objectives while remaining relevant in a rapidly changing environment?” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, who was the guest of honour at the event, said the Sarawak government fully supports the initiative introduced by the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA).
He said the project had been ongoing since the tenure of former minister Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong and is now being continued together with the Bidayuh language committee comprising teachers and lecturers.
“We are giving our full support. I’ve signed the letters and all that. This has been a long project actually, since the time of Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong.
“And now I’m continuing with this, together with our Bidayuh language committee, which comprises several teachers and lecturers who are helping us to do this. So hopefully we will get it done,” he said.
Sagah said the current challenge lies in finalising the syllabus before the programme can be introduced in schools.
“Actually the main problem is we have not yet got ready the syllabus for it. So, I hope the committee will come up with the required syllabus. Then we will start it in our schools,” he added.
