SEPANG: It was crucial for students to receive a world-class education as it will enable Malaysia to remain competitive and succeed even further, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak this evening.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the National Academic Decathlon 2015, Najib said education is not merely about learning specific facts and figures but allowing minds to open and develop, and to be a voyage of discovery.
The nation's young people, he said, would be determining the shape of our country in 2040, 2050 and beyond as the government and parliamentarians are working tirelessly to ensure Malaysia reaches high-income status by year 2020.
"It has often been said that Malaysia punches above its weight. Well let's keep punching higher.
"As young Malaysians proud of your country, I know you will want nothing less," he said in his speech during the award-presentation ceremony at the Lim Kok Wing University of Creative Technology, in Cyberjaya here.
This year's decathlon programmes saw the participation of 180 school students comprising 180 teams.
Aimed at guiding students to discuss and debate on current issues, the programmes involved a combination of different academic competitions in debating, writing, public speaking, and game show-themed quizzes.
Najib said champions of the National Round will go on to represent Malaysia in prestigious competitions such as the World's Scholar's Cup and the Tournament of Champions at Yale University in the United States.