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The Star
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Call to teach four more Sabah ethnic languages in schools gains traction
Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick speaks at the Odou do Kaamatan celebration in Kg Mahandoi, Penampang. KOTA KINABALU: A proposal to expand the teaching of the Kadazandusun language in schools to include four other major ethnic languages in Sabah has been submitted to the Federal Government. Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said the proposal came following engagements with various ethnic associations and teachers who called for broader representation of Sabah's linguistic diversity in schools. "Currently, Kadazandusun taught in schools is based solely on the Bunduliwan dialect, as per the agreement between the Kadazandusun Cultural Association and the United Sabah Dusun Association. "After I joined the Federal Cabinet, I received requests from ethnic associations and Kadazandusun language teachers in Penampang, Tuaran, Kuala Penyu and Tenom. I later led a Sabah delegation to meet Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek last year,' he said. Ewon, who is also United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president, said the delegation proposed that four additional ethnic languages — Tatana in Kuala Penyu, Kadazan Tangaa in Penampang, Murut Timugon in Tenom, and Dusun Lotud in Tuaran — be included in the school curriculum. 'YB Fadhlina agreed to the idea, and a special committee under the Education Ministry has since been formed to study the proposal. I will continue to follow through to make this a reality,' he said. Ewon made the remarks yesterday during the Odou do Kaamatan celebration in Kg Mahandoi, hosted by Upko Beaufort and attended by the Kuala Penyu community living and working in Kota Kinabalu. He said his ministry had channelled special allocations to four ethnic language associations — Tatana, Murut Timugon, Lotud Tuaran, and Kadazan Penampang — to support the development of curriculum modules, workbooks, and textbooks. Ewon stressed that it was his responsibility to be part of the effort to empower ethnic languages in schools, and that was why he had ensured the necessary funding was provided last year to kickstart the development of teaching materials. He also suggested that the teaching of these languages could begin as pilot programmes in selected schools within the relevant districts. In the case of Kuala Penyu, he said it would be more appropriate to teach the Tatana language instead of the Bunduliwan dialect, as most parents and teachers in the district belong to the Tatana community. Ewon said Sabah could learn from Sarawak's model, where Bahasa Iban is already taught in schools and Bidayuh was recently introduced as a pilot programme. "A delegation from Sabah has even visited schools in Sarawak to observe how Bidayuh is being taught as an addition to Iban,' he said. He also stressed the importance of preserving cultural celebrations like Kaamatan, which he said has become a symbol of unity not only among the Momogun community but across ethnic and religious lines, even abroad.
Daily Express
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Proposal to expand teaching of Kadazandusun subject
Published on: Monday, June 16, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 16, 2025 By: Malay Mail Text Size: Ewon said the four major ethnic languages proposed are the Tatana language in Kuala Penyu, Kadazan Tangaa in Penampang, Murut Timugon in Tenom and Dusun Lotud in Tuaran. — Picture via Facebook/Ewon Benedick Official Media PENAMPANG: A proposal to expand the teaching of the Kadazandusun language subject in schools to include four other ethnic languages in Sabah has been submitted to the Federal Government for consideration, said Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick. He said the four major ethnic languages proposed are the Tatana language in Kuala Penyu, Kadazan Tangaa in Penampang, Murut Timugon in Tenom and Dusun Lotud in Tuaran. Advertisement The United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) President said he, along with a delegation from Sabah, had held discussions with Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and the Ministry of Education delegation last year. 'Yang Berhormat Fadhlina subsequently agreed for a special committee under the Ministry of Education to be established to study this proposal. I will continue to follow up on all efforts to realise this initiative. 'Up to now, the Kadazandusun language subject in schools has been based solely on the Bunduliwan Dusun dialect,' he said in a statement after officiating the Odou do Kaamatan celebration at Kampung Mahandoi, here, Sunday. Ewon said efforts to strengthen the ethnic language curriculum are ongoing initiatives involving various parties, including the Kadazandusun Language Foundation (KLF), the Momogun National Congress (MNC) and the Sabah Ethnic Languages Association. He said his Ministry is also supporting the effort through the allocation of special funding to four ethnic language associations for the development of modules, workbooks and textbooks. 'The teaching of these four Sabah ethnic languages can be implemented on a pilot basis in selected schools. For example, in Kuala Penyu, teaching the Tatana language would be more appropriate compared to using the Bunduliwan dialect,' he said. According to Ewon, Sabah could emulate the implementation of ethnic language education in government schools in Sarawak, which has piloted the teaching of the Iban and Bidayuh languages. 'Efforts in this direction are underway. A delegation from Sabah has also visited schools in Sarawak to observe first-hand the implementation of Bidayuh language teaching, in addition to the Iban language,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Sabah moves to include Tatana, Kadazan Tangaa, Murut Timugon and Lotud in classrooms
Published on: Sunday, June 15, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jun 15, 2025 Text Size: PENAMPANG: The proposal to expand the Kadazandusun language curriculum in schools to include four other Sabah ethnic languages has been submitted to the Federal Government, said Upko President Datuk Ewon Benedick ( pic ). Ewon said the initiative, backed by groups including KLF, MNC and Sabah Ethnic Language Association, aims to strengthen the presence of ethnic languages in the education system. Advertisement The plan proposes the inclusion of Tatana (Kuala Penyu), Kadazan Tangaa (Penampang), Murut Timugon (Tenom), and Suang Lotud (Tuaran) alongside the existing Dusun Bunduliwan syllabus. He confirmed that Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has agreed to form a special committee to assess the proposal, with pilot programmes to begin in selected schools in relevant districts. Ewon, who is also Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, said funding has been allocated to support the development of modules, workbooks and textbooks for the four ethnic languages. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Proposal submitted to expand Kadazandusun language subject to four other ethnic languages
PENAMPANG: A proposal to expand the teaching of the Kadazandusun language subject in schools to include four other ethnic languages in Sabah has been submitted to the Federal Government for consideration, said Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Ewon Benedick. He said the four major ethnic languages proposed are the Tatana language in Kuala Penyu, Kadazan Tangaa in Penampang, Murut Timugon in Tenom and Dusun Lotud in Tuaran. The United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) president said he, along with a delegation from Sabah, had held discussions with Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and the Ministry of Education delegation last year. 'Yang Berhormat Fadhlina subsequently agreed for a special committee under the Ministry of Education to be established to study this proposal. I will continue to follow up on all efforts to realise this initiative. 'Up to now, the Kadazandusun language subject in schools has been based solely on the Bunduliwan Dusun dialect,' he said in a statement after officiating the Odou do Kaamatan celebration at Kampung Mahandoi here today. Ewon said efforts to strengthen the ethnic language curriculum are ongoing initiatives involving various parties including the Kadazandusun Language Foundation (KLF), the Momogun National Congress (MNC), and the Sabah Ethnic Languages Association. He said his ministry is also supporting the effort through the allocation of special funding to four ethnic language associations for the development of modules, workbooks and textbooks. 'The teaching of these four Sabah ethnic languages can be implemented on a pilot basis in selected schools. For example, in Kuala Penyu, teaching the Tatana language would be more appropriate compared to using the Bunduliwan dialect,' he said. According to Ewon, Sabah could emulate the implementation of ethnic language education in government schools in Sarawak, which has piloted the teaching of the Iban and Bidayuh languages. 'Efforts in this direction are underway. A delegation from Sabah has also visited schools in Sarawak to observe first-hand the implementation of Bidayuh language teaching, in addition to the Iban language,' he said.
The Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Sabah Proposes Expanding Ethnic Language Teaching in Schools
PENAMPANG: A proposal to expand the teaching of the Kadazandusun language subject in schools to include four other ethnic languages in Sabah has been submitted to the Federal Government for consideration, said Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Ewon Benedick. He said the four major ethnic languages proposed are the Tatana language in Kuala Penyu, Kadazan Tangaa in Penampang, Murut Timugon in Tenom and Dusun Lotud in Tuaran. The United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) president said he, along with a delegation from Sabah, had held discussions with Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and the Ministry of Education delegation last year. 'Yang Berhormat Fadhlina subsequently agreed for a special committee under the Ministry of Education to be established to study this proposal. I will continue to follow up on all efforts to realise this initiative. 'Up to now, the Kadazandusun language subject in schools has been based solely on the Bunduliwan Dusun dialect,' he said in a statement after officiating the Odou do Kaamatan celebration at Kampung Mahandoi here today. Ewon said efforts to strengthen the ethnic language curriculum are ongoing initiatives involving various parties including the Kadazandusun Language Foundation (KLF), the Momogun National Congress (MNC), and the Sabah Ethnic Languages Association. He said his ministry is also supporting the effort through the allocation of special funding to four ethnic language associations for the development of modules, workbooks and textbooks. 'The teaching of these four Sabah ethnic languages can be implemented on a pilot basis in selected schools. For example, in Kuala Penyu, teaching the Tatana language would be more appropriate compared to using the Bunduliwan dialect,' he said. According to Ewon, Sabah could emulate the implementation of ethnic language education in government schools in Sarawak, which has piloted the teaching of the Iban and Bidayuh languages. 'Efforts in this direction are underway. A delegation from Sabah has also visited schools in Sarawak to observe first-hand the implementation of Bidayuh language teaching, in addition to the Iban language,' he said.
