Teo's visit opens doors to further studies in China
Published on: Wednesday, October 01, 2014
KOTA KINABALU: State Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Teo Chee Kang's working visit to the Tsinghua University and Peking University in China, along with leaders from four education bodies in Sabah, have opened doors for Sabahan students to further their studies at higher learning institutions in that country. Teo led a 23-member entourage on a working visit to the two prestigious Chinese universities from September 21 to 28, where he was invited to speak to Chinese entrepreneurs and key officials at the Market Economy Academy of Peking University and Tsinghua Bauhinia Management Training Centre. Sabah Independent Secondary Schools Association (Sabah Dong Zong) Chairman, Tan Sri Andrew Liew Sui Fatt, said the visit to the Tsinghua University and Peking University was meaningful as it enabled those driving Chinese education in Sabah to learn more about the two universities. ADVERTISEMENT "We have gained many valuable information that will be useful in carrying out education developments (in Sabah)," he said. He said the entourage members were impressed by the education system in China and the discipline the Chinese display at their workplace. During a dialogue session with Yang Shizhuo, who heads the Tsinghua Bauhinia Management Training Centre at Tsinghua University, Liew requested the university to provide training for Sabahan teachers in Chinese independent schools and primary schools. "Yang readily agreed to our request to provide the training courses for our teachers." Liew hoped there would be working visits to other Chinese universities in the future, adding that Sabah Dong Zong has previously organised a trip of such nature to Xinjiang. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Association of Sabah National Type Chinese School Management Committee (Sabah Dong Lian), Ben Lim Kiat Kong, said it was a rare opportunity that four major education bodies in Sabah could take part in a working visit of this nature. ADVERTISEMENT He said the dialogues between Teo and the officials at Tsinghua University and Peking University were fruitful. "We are pleased to see that Teo is pursuing wider opportunities for school leavers in Sabah, especially students from Chinese independent schools, to study abroad in China."
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At the same time, Lim said this visit also benefited teaching staff in Chinese independent schools as Tsinghua University and Peking University would soon provide training for them. On a related note, Lim said parents were generally more inclined to send their children to Australia or European countries for further studies. However, he said the mindset was gradually changing and he believed that it would become more common for Sabahan students to have their tertiary studies in China. Lim said the trip also conveyed the message to parents that the Malaysian Chinese have good connections with their counterparts in China, therefore sending their children to Chinese universities would be a good option. He added that the education development here would also benefit from the increase of Chinese tourists and investors to Sabah. On the other hand, Sabah Chinese Primary School Working Committee Chairman Datuk William Chu said he hoped that Tsinghua University and Peking University would appoint their lecturers to train the teaching staff of the Chinese schools in Sabah. "We hope this working visit led by Teo will achieve this result." During the dialogue session, Chu said Tsinghua University expressed their willingness to provide training courses. "This implies that Chinese independent school students in Sabah will have an option to further their studies in Tsinghua University, Peking University or other universities in China," he said, adding that the tuition fee in China would be relatively cheaper. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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Chu also urged Chinese independent schools to have more dialogues and exchanges with Chinese universities in order to obtain scholarships for students. Sabah Chinese School Teachers Association Chairman, Datuk Eng Thiam Leong, thanked Teo for inviting him to join the working visit, which allowed him to learn more about the two universities, the courses offered and their management strategies. "There are also many talents in Sabah. If we manage them well, Sabahan students can also boleh (excel)!