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Table 7: formal Educational Levels Completed by the Respondents’ 64 Adult Children
Malay Chinese Lun Bawang Total
Form III 0 6 0 6
Form V Only 3 1 3 7
Form V + Diploma or
Tech. Training 12 2 8 22
Form VI 0 1 3 4
BA 7 7 6 20
Graduate Degree 1 2 2 5
TOTAL 23 19 22 64
Table 8: Occupational Distribution of the Respondents’ 64 Adult Children
Malay Chinese Lun Bawang Total
Public / Private
Government 11 3 9 23
Private 8 14 10 32
Unemployed 4 2 3 9
Occupations
Teacher / Lecturer 3 1 2 6
Government Staff / Technician 5 1 6 12
Private Co. Employee 8 12 9 29
Med. / Dent. Practice 1 1 2 4
Social Worker 2 0 0 2
Farmer 0 2 0 2
Summary and Conclusion
The structural transformation of the Sarawak from a largely rural, village-based agricultural society of people with little formal education into a modern, relatively
well developed urban society is clearly illustrated by this case study of 25 men and 8 women who entered secondary school in the 1960s in a remote district of the
state. The parents of the 33 respondents were for the most part rural farmer, with little formal education among either the mothers or the fathers. The three ethnic
groups lived largely in geographically distinct area with limited interaction outside one’s group and virtually no intermarriage. Over 60 per cent of the respondents’
mothers were illiterate as were 9 per cent of the fathers, and only 3 per cent of the mothers and 15 per cent of the fathers had any secondary education. None of
the 66 parents had education beyond secondary school. Faith traditions followed clear ethnic lines: all malay parents were Muslim, all Lun Bawang parents were
SIB Christians and 85 per cent of the parents of Chinese students were described as ancestor worshippers/Buddhists or had no religion.
As shown in the Table 9 below, the education levels of the respondents’ parents, the respondents themselves, and their children are markedly different. While only
9 per cent of the parents had any secondary education, and none of them went beyond Form III, all of the respondents and their adult children completed at least
Form III, and 66 per cent of the respondents and 90 per cent of their adult children completed Form V or higher. Further, 18 per cent of the respondents and 39
per cents of their adult children have at least bachelor’s degrees.
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Malay Chinese Lun Bawang Total
Form III 0 6 0 6
Form V Only 3 1 3 7
Form V + Diploma or
Tech. Training 12 2 8 22
Form VI 0 1 3 4
BA 7 7 6 20
Graduate Degree 1 2 2 5
TOTAL 23 19 22 64
Table 8: Occupational Distribution of the Respondents’ 64 Adult Children
Malay Chinese Lun Bawang Total
Public / Private
Government 11 3 9 23
Private 8 14 10 32
Unemployed 4 2 3 9
Occupations
Teacher / Lecturer 3 1 2 6
Government Staff / Technician 5 1 6 12
Private Co. Employee 8 12 9 29
Med. / Dent. Practice 1 1 2 4
Social Worker 2 0 0 2
Farmer 0 2 0 2
Summary and Conclusion
The structural transformation of the Sarawak from a largely rural, village-based agricultural society of people with little formal education into a modern, relatively
well developed urban society is clearly illustrated by this case study of 25 men and 8 women who entered secondary school in the 1960s in a remote district of the
state. The parents of the 33 respondents were for the most part rural farmer, with little formal education among either the mothers or the fathers. The three ethnic
groups lived largely in geographically distinct area with limited interaction outside one’s group and virtually no intermarriage. Over 60 per cent of the respondents’
mothers were illiterate as were 9 per cent of the fathers, and only 3 per cent of the mothers and 15 per cent of the fathers had any secondary education. None of
the 66 parents had education beyond secondary school. Faith traditions followed clear ethnic lines: all malay parents were Muslim, all Lun Bawang parents were
SIB Christians and 85 per cent of the parents of Chinese students were described as ancestor worshippers/Buddhists or had no religion.
As shown in the Table 9 below, the education levels of the respondents’ parents, the respondents themselves, and their children are markedly different. While only
9 per cent of the parents had any secondary education, and none of them went beyond Form III, all of the respondents and their adult children completed at least
Form III, and 66 per cent of the respondents and 90 per cent of their adult children completed Form V or higher. Further, 18 per cent of the respondents and 39
per cents of their adult children have at least bachelor’s degrees.
256 | Dahulu Terasing Kini Terjalin
