More Punan parents have come to realise the importance of giving the best education to their children.
Punan National Association (PNA) president Donny Dhwie said the association has been instrumental in changing their mindset.
“Since 2000, the number of Punan students enrolled at higher learning institutions has steadily increased,” he said in a press release yesterday.
He said PNA data showed there are presently nine Master’s degree and over 200 bachelor’s degree graduates as well as diploma holders among the over 5,000 Punan population statewide.
“Many Punan parents were reluctant to send their children to school, especially when the timber business was booming in the 1980s.
“Only after that era, parents began to realise their mistakes. They now believe in giving the best education they can afford to their children,” he said.
Donny said PNA would continue to work hard to improve the education level among Punan children.
“This is in line with our aspiration to have at least 30 per cent of Punans holding a bachelor’s degree from the total population by the year 2030,” he added.
PNA has organised motivational programmes for Punan students since 2005, with the most recent being at SMK Belaga on Aug 6.
“We will organise a similar programme in October in Tatau, Bintulu. We hope corporate bodies would sponsor the programme,” he added.
Conny Banji, reporters@theborneopost.com
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