KUCHING, Feb 16: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) plans to offer the Bachelor of Education in Iban language programme to address the shortage of Iban language teachers in the region.
Its vice-chancellor, Professor Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit said the programme is slated to commence in the first semester of 2025/2026 academic session.
“The programme will be offered at its Education, Language and Communication Faculty.
“The faculty also plans to set up the Borneo Languages Department which will include the Iban, Bidayuh, Melanau and Sarawak Malay dialect,” he said during a visit to Deputy Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, today.
He added an Iban Language for Communication Profession will also be offered as an elective course.
Previously, Uggah who is also UNIMAS Pro-chancellor, had recently suggested UNIMAS to come up with an Iban language programme to address the shortage of teachers in the native language.
Also present during the visit were UNIMAS board of directors chairman, Tan Sri Sulong Matjeraie; deputy vice-chancellor (student affairs and alumni) Prof Dr Al- Khalid Othman; Education, Language and Communication Faculty dean Prof Dr Ambigapathy Pandian and lecturers Dr Remmy Gedat and Dr Santrol Abdullah. -TVS
