These Penans can now write and read, thanks to SEB

MURUM, July 16, 2014:  Some 341 Penans, who used to be illiterate,  can now write and read in simple Bahasa Malaysia. 

Sarawak Energy Chief Executive Officer Torstein Dale Sjotveit taking an opportunity to speak to one of the participants while presenting him with a certificate as Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau and Sarawak Energy Senior Manager II for Corporate Social Responsibility Jiwari Abdullah (left) looking on.

Ever since joining the Murum Penan Literacy Programme, this group of Penans is able to proudly display basic reading skills.

Sarawak Energy in partnership with the Society for the Advancement of Women and the Family, Sarawak (SAWF) have recently completed the Stage I and II of the Literacy Programme for the communities in Tegulang and Metalun and are all geared to move on to the next level. 

At the Graduation Ceremony for the participants, Sarawak Energy Chief Executive Officer Datuk Torstein Dale Sjotveit presented the participants with certificates in a simple ceremony last week, marking a milestone of achievement in the company’s effort to promote education.

In his speech, Torstein acknowledged the efforts of the dedicated facilitators and congratulated the participants for their commitment and perseverance in the programme.

“I am extremely happy and proud to see that the Penans are now receiving education. You should be proud of yourselves for making this bold step in wanting to learn. Education is the only way for us to further develop ourselves and improve our standard of living.

“It is my sincere hope that you will continue your efforts in the next stage of the literacy programme which has just begun,” he said.

These participants will move on to learn simple accounting, home economy and sit through a parenting workshop in the next stage of the literacy programme.

 One of the participants, Ronny Ngo, displaying his reading skills for all to hear during the certificate presentation event.

The literacy programme was initiated to narrow the illiteracy gap among the Penans.

According to a ‘Contemporary Ethnography’ survey, 517 out of 550 Penans in Murum who are of education age were not in school.

The programme started in February 2012 when the first batch of facilitators begun classes in the longhouses.

At first, it catered only for the Penan women but the number of interested individuals grew and today, there are 30 facilitators from six affected Penan communities conducting literacy classes at their respective longhouses. 

There are six longhouses in Murum and one in Sungai Asap.

Aside from reading and writing, participants are also taught basic arithmetic, personal and leadership development, hygiene and healthy living skills as well as vegetable farming among others.

Participants of the Murum Penan Literacy Programme gather for the certificate presentation.

Meanwhile, a similar event was held the following day at Long Wat in Tegulang whereby certificates were handed to the other remaining participants. The certificates presentation for those in Tegulang was done by Sarawak Energy Manager for Social Investment Joanne Tan.