BALAI RINGIN: The Sarawak Government remains steadfast in its commitment to empowering human capital development through higher education as the foundation for the State’s future success, aligning with the demands of an increasingly competitive global education landscape and job market.

Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan Lawan, remarked that academic achievement alone is no longer sufficient.

He urged students to be bold in setting higher aspirations, such as pursuing Master’s degrees and Doctorates (PhDs), to ensure they remain relevant and competitive.

The Balai Ringin Assemblyman emphasised that knowledge is a long-term investment that serves as the backbone for both individual success and the holistic development of society and the State.

Datuk Snowdan shared these insights while officiating the Appreciation and Graduation Ceremony for Form 5 and Form 6 students of SMK Balai Ringin recently.

During the event, he presented certificates and awards to 266 students in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements.

In a related update, the school management reported an encouraging upward trend in academic performance.

SMK Balai Ringin’s passing rate rose from 90.44 per cent in 2023 to 92.08 per cent in 2024.

Furthermore, the School Average Grade (GPS) showed significant improvement, moving from 5.91 to 5.45 during the same period.

As a gesture of support for the school’s educational advancement, Datuk Snowdan announced a grant of RM20,000 for the SMK Balai Ringin Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG).

He also pledged an additional RM10,000 for the purchase of graduation gowns to be used in next year’s ceremony. - UKASnews