SIBU: Christian Mission schools, including Tadika Methodist Chinese, which cater to students of various racial, cultural and religious backgrounds, have made tremendous contributions to Sarawak’s success story, according to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.

“These Christian Mission schools are still relevant today as they had been participating in the transformation of the education system and in producing human capital for the development of Sarawak in particular and our country in general.

“They are the movers and shakers of Sarawak’s economic progress and development of the past, present and future,” he said when declaring open Wisma Mary Hoover in conjunction with the 100th Anniversary of Tadika Methodist Chinese here yesterday.

The text of Abang Johari’s speech was read out by Assistant Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh, who represented him to grace the function.

Also present were the event organising chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King, who is also Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman and Dudong assemblyman, Sibu Resident Charles Siaw, chairman of Tadika Methodist Chinese and board member John Ting Sik Kang and president of Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference Dr Tie King Tai.

Abang Johari noted that the Methodist Church operates 47 kindergartens throughout Sarawak giving early childhood education to over 6,126 children of all races.

He said these kindergartens have played a very significant role in nation-building and the grooming of the nation’s leaders.

Adding on, the Chief Minister said that as Malaysia plans to transform into fully-developed nation, education becomes the priority of the government.

He pointed out that it is therefore important to ensure everyone is equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills and values in this highly competitive and globalised world which is impacted by rapid development in science technology and information.

Education, he added, has become critical as the nation moves from an economy based on labour-intensive and lower-end manufactured products to K-economy or knowledge economy and to digital economy.

“Education in Malaysia needs more changes so that it will be able to produce human capital that are scientific, knowledgeable and competent. In this respect, pre-school education from kindergarten is crucial as it lays the foundation of education,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister noted that the new four-storey building is named after Mrs Mary Hoover, founder of Tadika Methodist Chinese which started in 1918. She was the wife of Reverend James Matthews who was the first missionary of Methodist Church Malaysia to work in Sarawak. Wisma Mary Hoover has a total built-up area of 3,980 metre square and costs around RM8.5 million.

Abang Johari was also delighted to note that Tadika Methodist Chinese currently has 310 pupils of which 90 are Bumiputeras.

“All the children learn and play harmoniously in the midst of Bahasa Melayu, English and Mandarin and in an environment conducive to the full development of a whole person,” he said.

In a multi-racial society, he stressed, it is important to understand each other, exercise tolerance and celebrate our differences and diversity to foster unity and to maintain peace and harmony in our country.

The Chief Minister congratulated the building committee headed by Tiong and all those involved for the completion of the new building for the kindergarten.