Manyin fields questions from a TV crew at the end of the event.

SERIAN: The construction of five residential international schools in Sarawak will begin next year.

Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin believed that licences for these schools would be issued next month (December).

“Once we have received the licences, we will start with the design and construction of the schools next year,” he told reporters after officiating at the presentation of academic excellence award jointly organised by Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) Serian and Bung Sadong branches and Batang Kedup unit yesterday.

He, however, did not disclose the estimated costs to build the schools by the Sarawak government, although the allocation would come under 12th Malaysian Plan (12MP).

He also said these international schools would only accept top students. Those students without the financial means will be fully funded by the Sarawak government while families that are better off would pay according to their ability.

He added that the State Planning Authority and the state Cabinet had approved the sites for the international schools in Kuching, Samarahan, Bintulu, Sibu and Miri.

“We have more or less worked out the budget, how much it is going to cost us, including operational cost,” he said.

To a question, he said these international schools would not compete with existing residential schools for top students already set up by the federal government.

“Ours will accept top students from all races. They (schools) will not compete with institutions such as Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) because ours are private international schools,” he said.

The proposed international schools was first announced by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg this year, who had said lessons at the schools would be based on the Cambridge University syllabus.

Meanwhile, yesterday’s event held at Ranchan multi purpose hall saw presentation of academic awards to 60 students of Bidayuh ethnicity who excelled in public examinations

Gabriel Jim Jee Chin from Daha Kisau who scored cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.75 in last year’s Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) was honoured with excellence award.

Manyin, who is also Tebedu assemblyman, called on DBNA and Bidayuh Graduates Association (BGA) to continue promoting academic excellence among the Bidayuh families ‘as education is the key to break the poverty cycle’.