KUCHING: Sarawak continues to enhance the quality of education in the region by providing the necessary platform for students' success, whether at the primary, secondary, or tertiary level.

In accordance with this, the 2nd Premier of Sarawak Debate Championship 2024 was organised by the Sarawak Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) in partnership with the Sarawak State Education Department (JPNS) and Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak at Swinburne’s newly redeveloped campus from July 17 to 19.

According to MEITD Minister, Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, the debate competition involved over 200 secondary students from 18 districts in Sarawak, including Bintulu, Kanowit, Kuching, Limbang, Miri, Serian, Sibu, Sri Aman, and others.

"These skills are not only essential for academic success but also for your future roles as leaders in your community and beyond, especially if you want to study law," he said during the closing ceremony of the championship on Friday. 

The debate competition featured two categories which are English and Malay.

Meanwhile, the ceremony also saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between MEITD, Universiti Malaya, and Swinburne University.

This landmark agreement signifies a major step forward in the collaborative efforts to strengthen higher education, particularly in establishing a Bachelor of Law (Hons) programme in Sarawak, as well as other legal education and training, and to create better access to educational opportunities in Sarawak.

The MoU was signed by MEITD Permanent Secretary, Adana Jed and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International) of Universiti Malaya, Professor Dr. Yatimah Alias, while witnessed by Dato Sri Roland Sagah and Dean of the Faculty of Law of Universiti Malaya, Professor Dr. Jason Chuah. 

"This MoU seeks to establish and facilitate the launch of the University Malaya's Bachelor of Laws with Honours Programme in Sarawak.

"I look forward to the fruitful collaborations that will stem from the MoUs and the positive impact they will have on our educational landscape,” said Dato Sri Roland Sagah.  

Also present was MEITD Deputy Minister, Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of Swinburne University of Technology, Ir. Professor Lau Hieng Ho and Legal Advisor at the Sarawak Premier’s Department, Dato Sri Talat Mahmood Abdul Rashid. -UKASnews