"Bernama.com" 11 November 2007
‘Christian Mission Schools Relevant To Nation-building - Mawan’
KUCHING, Nov 11 (Bernama) -- Christian mission schools in Sarawak must continue operating to contribute to nation-building despite the financial burden to run them, a state cabinet minister said.
State Social Development and Urbanisation Minister Datuk Seri William Mawan said the schools, established more than a century ago when Christian missionaries came to Sarawak, stood out as fine examples of schools with universal appeal for their academic excellence and immense contributions in promoting unity among students of diverse races.
"A good number of our state leaders owe their early years of formation to Christian schools where they received their primary and secondary education.
"While it may seem to be a good idea for the government to run these schools as they are doing a good job after all, the unique contributions of the church in educating our younger set is relevant and very much in need," he said at the fund-raising dinner of SK Catholic English here last night.
Established in 1955 by the Mill Hill Christian Mission, the SK Catholic English, a government-aided primary school, initially catered for students in the Green Road area here and surrounding areas. Its enrolment has since expanded to students of diverse race and religious backgrounds.
Mawan also said substantial allocations have been made to provide power supply to schools in remote areas under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.
"This is in tandem with the priority to upgrade rural schools to be on par with urban schools and to be linked globally via information and communications technology," he added.
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