- Proposal submitted to teach four more Sabah ethnic languages Tatana, Kadazan Tangaa, Murut Timugon, and Dusun Lotud alongside Kadazandusun in schools.
- Special MoE committee formed to study the initiative, supported by language foundations and Ewon Benedick’s ministry through grants for teaching materials.
- Plan includes experimental rollout in selected schools, inspired by Sarawak’s model of introducing Iban and Bidayuh language education.
A proposal to increase the teaching of the Kadazandusun language subject in schools to accommodate four other ethnic languages in Sabah has been tabled before the Federal Government for consideration, stated Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick.
The four prominent ethnic languages under consideration are Tatana language in Kuala Penyu, Kadazan Tangaa in Penampang, Murut Timugon in Tenom and Dusun Lotud in Tuaran, he explained. The Upko President stated that he, with the Sabah delegation, had met with Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and the Ministry of Education delegation last year.
"Yang Berhormat Fadhlina then agreed for there to be a special committee under the Ministry of Education to examine this proposal. I will keep pursuing all efforts to make this happen".
Until now, the Kadazandusun language subject in schools was solely reliant on the Bunduliwan Dusun dialect", he said during a statement after launching the Odou do Kaamatan celebration at Kampung Mahandoi.
Ewon explained attempts to enhance the ethnic language curriculum are continuous efforts by multiple stakeholders, comprising the Kadazandusun Language Foundation (KLF), the Momogun National Congress (MNC) and the Sabah Ethnic Languages Association. He added his Ministry is also providing aid for the initiative via special grants to four ethnic language associations for the creation of modules, workbooks and textbooks.
"The four Sabah ethnic languages can be introduced on an experimental basis in selected schools. For instance, in Kuala Penyu, learning the Tatana language would be more suitable than employing the Bunduliwan dialect", he said.
Sabah can replicate the roll-out of ethnic language education in government schools in Sarawak, which has experimented with teaching Iban and Bidayuh languages, according to Ewon.
