Tuaran: The Kent Teachers Training Campus (IPGK Kent) here has great potential to be transformed into a heritage building with its 70-year history as the first teaching campus in the State.
The campus was established in 1952 and was inaugurated by Her Royal Highness Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent.
To this day, the IPGK Kent continues to preserve and store antique objects such as the first camera that was ever used by the college, as well as video recorders, projectors and paper compressors, among other things.
On Wednesday, Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai visited the campus in conjunction with its 70th Platinum Jubilee Celebration Ceremony.
He toured the campus and visited galleries exhibiting old education-related artefacts, including scrolls and certificates, newspaper clippings, trophy awards and nostalgic photographs.
“Given the campus’s rich history, IPGK Kent has the makings of an educational tourism offering,” he said at the event.
“It has been brought to my attention that the campus intends to make its Kent Education Heritage Centre a state heritage site. In my capacity as Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment, I will do my level best to bring attention to this matter within the State Government.
“I regard it as a good effort as it will cement Tuaran’s position as the oldest centre of excellence in teacher education, in addition to its already-established status as a tourist hotspot,” he remarked.
Additionally, Joniston strongly suggested the campus administrator put together paperwork on that matter.
Present at the event were IPGK Kent deputy director Datin Dr Rosnah Edinin; Head of the Department of Academic Excellence Harun Sarail; Head of Student Affairs Department Amidy Malagob; Head of Social Science Studies Department Dr Jais Abdul Hamid; and Kent Alumni Association president Adnan Ibrahim.
According to Dr Rosnah, IPGK Kent, which is Malaysia’s fourth teacher education institute, has successfully produced approximately 18,500 teachers who have served all over the country.
She added that the state government’s commitment to support and strengthen the old campus site as a National Education Heritage site will make it one of the district’s landmarks.
“Certainly, this can stimulate the local economy and become an ideal tourist attraction,” she added.
