Upko acting president Wilfred Madius Tangau said although the subject had been part of the education curriculum for some time, not many students had taken it up.

This, coupled with a shortage of teachers, meant that Bible knowledge was all but forgotten in the state.

However, the Tuaran MP said promoting the subject had been Upko’s priority since the party’s former president Bernard Dompok requested that it be made an elective SPM subject during his time as a member of the federal cabinet in 2011.

“We knew the challenges when the government gave the nod… so Tan Sri Bernard said Upko would do its part, and he offered to provide the textbooks.”

Tangau said Upko had also started the ball rolling for the establishment of funds to help pay allowances for Bible knowledge teachers, who voluntarily hold lessons after school hours.

Now, he said, more than 1,000 students throughout Sabah were studying the subject.

Tangau said Bible knowledge was an important subject as it could help students improve their English while also providing them with a form of literature.

It would also instil good values among the students, which could help them make the right decisions in life, he added.

“I hope they will use the knowledge gained from the subject to become better and useful people in their adulthood.”

Tangau, who is science, technology and innovation minister, presented the Bible knowledge textbooks in two separate events in Tuaran yesterday.

At the first event, he handed over 50 sets of textbooks to SM St John in Tuaran. At the second event, he presented 35 sets to SMK Tun Fuad Stephens in Kiulu, which is within the constituency.

He said he had also received orders for 600 more sets in addition to the 750 which had been distributed to various schools in the state.

“This is unprecedented,” he added.

Rights of Christians in Sabah will be protected, says Upko leader