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
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