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Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email Date: 10 March 2012
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Posts Tagged ‘Education’
Free counselling for STPM leavers by MIC
March 7th, 2012 | Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email
Letter by parent and ex-student on SJKT Serdang classroom roof collapse
March 6th, 2012 | Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email Received the below from a forum member who is a parent of the student in SRJK(T) Serdang. So, who can answer his questions? Have “nambikai”?
SRJK(T) Serdang is located less than 1km away from Universiti Putra Malaysia and a mere 10 minutes’ drive from Putrajaya. The school was started in 1936 with one teacher and 40 students. The current enrolment is about 700 students and is one of the 132 fully aided schools from the total of 523 Tamil Primary schools nationwide. As a parent of one of the students of the school and as one of the former students from the same school, I would like to highlight the plight of the students and parents of the school, which also reflects the state of other Tamil Schools in the country.
[building launched in 1963]
[the same building in 2012]
Although the school is fully aided, we literally have to beg with the Education Department for everything, including the maintenance and repairing of the infrastructures of the school. At times, the PIBG will contribute some fund to do minor repairing works. The newspaper cutting above is from the year 1963, when the new building was officiated by the then Menteri Besar. The building was declared unsafe by JKR in 2002. Despite several appeals, the JKR never lifted their fingers and always come up with the standard answer “Tiada peruntukkan tahun ini” (No budget allocation for this year). It was a disaster waiting to happen and it duly happened at around 8am on the 16th February 2012.
The ceiling in one of the classes collapsed suddenly while lesson was going on and luckily, the teacher managed to bring all the students out from the class before it collapsed further, bringing down huge amount of debris. By God’s grace, no one was injured but the real drama started only after that.
The school is located is the Sri Serdang state constituency, under BN ( Datuk Satim bin Diman) and under Serdang Parliamentary seat, under PR. Datuk Satim, who won the seat by less than 50 votes in the last election, did not even bother to respond or visit. Meanwhile, politicians from PR were barred from entering the school compounds, as per one circular from the Educational Department in the 1990′s.
The school authorities contacted the respective departments and personnels. Datuk K Devamani immediately paid a visit, promised to build temporary cabins within two weeks for the students to study, with plans for another permanent building in future and bragged about the amount of money spent by BN in the past few years (in the region of few hundred millions at least) for Tamil Schools as well as some unrelated stuffs like ETP and etc. Some of my friends cheekily said that this a normal `Wayang Kulit’ show as he has no power to do anything. I realised it now that they were just telling the plain truth.
It is almost 3 weeks already and our children still don’t have classroom to use. Lessons are conducted at canteen and some empty space between buildings. The children are suffering due to hot weather and cannot concentrate on their studies. A lady officer from JKR visited the school recently and said that JKR is willing to build the new building but asked a funny question. `Siapa akan tanggung kos bangunan ini? PIBG atau LPS? (Who is going to bear the cost? PTA or The School Board?“
Can someone tell this lady that this school is a fully aided school and it is the responsibility of the present government to provide the basic infrastructures? By right, we should sue your department for failing provide a safe building.
Some even suggested that we should approach the state government but I disagree. As far as I know, I have been paying taxes since 1993 to the Central Government under BN, just like all Malaysians so why the hell should I go around and begging people? Isn’t it BN’s duty to provide basic infrastructures as we pay tax to you? And don’t tell me that you don’t have enough money. 1% of the loan given to Sharizat’s family is enough to build a 3 storey building here. Imagine that this is happening to a fully aided school. How about partially aided schools? Don’t you collect taxes from them too? Why are you discriminating us, BN? The PM wants us to put `nambikkai’ (trust) on BN and I don’t have to give a better example on why we shouldn’t trust the BN government.
from: Gopal Thirumalai, via e-mail
This is the related article from The Star:
Partiban Muthusamy was at work when he received news that the ceiling of his daughter’s classroom had collapsed.
“Another parent called to inform me about the incident,” said the 42-year-old customer support executive who immediately rushed to the scene.
His seven-year-old daughter, Narmatha Partiban, was among the 29 Year One pupils of SJK (T) Serdang who were in the class when a portion of the ceiling suddenly collapsed at 8.45am yesterday.
Classroom panic: Premah and her pupils looking at the ceiling which had collapsed into their classroom at SJK (T) Serdang yesterday.None of the pupils were injured in the incident.
Teacher Premah Ramasamy, 30, said she was conducting a Tamil lesson when the ceiling gave way, causing a huge pile of dust, debris and even bird’s nests to drop into the classroom, missing her and her pupils by inches.
“I panicked but managed to get all the pupils out of the class,” said a visibly shaken Premah, adding that a portion of the ceiling in another class also collapsed within a few minutes.
The school’s senior assistant for pupil affairs, Ganeswari Karuppiah, said a huge solid wood beam nearly fell on the pupils.
“We are thankful that nobody was injured,” she said, adding that the ceiling in many classrooms leaked whenever it rained.
Another parent, Anantha Rao, 46, said he was worried about the safety of his daughter who is in Year Four.
“We don’t know if it is safe to continue sending our children to the school,” he said.
Three of the affected classrooms have been cordoned off by the Fire Department, leaving 160 pupils without a classroom.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk S.K. Devamany, who visited the school, said he would ensure that the pupils were provided with temporary classrooms until a long-term solution was put in place.
He urged the Education Ministry to conduct an audit on the safety of Tamil schools nationwide as many of them were in poor condition.
source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/2/16/nation/10747821&sec=nation
Apply for Know India Programme
February 10th, 2012 | Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email This is a HIGHLY SUBSIDISED program to get to know India! Hard to believe, but yes its true 
The Know India Programme (KIP) was earlier known as the Internship Programme for Diaspora Youth (IPDY). The KIP is organized in order to associate the younger generation of the widely spread out Indian Diaspora closely with India. Nineteen such KIPs have been organised till now by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA), Government of India (GOI), with a view to promote awareness on India, its socio-cultural diversity, its all round development, its emergence as an economic powerhouse, India being a centre of higher education and the ongoing developments in various fields including infrastructure, Information technology etc. The participants from countries having larger population of People of Indian Origin (PIO) are selected based on recommendations made by Indian Missions / Posts abroad. They are provided with full hospitality and are reimbursed 90% of the cheapest economy class airfare from their respective country to India and back. Each KIP is organized in partnership with the State Governments, and each KIP is of 3-weeks duration and has not more than 40 participants.
More Details:
The 20th, 21st, and 22nd KIPs will be held in partnership with the state governments of Goa, Uttaranchal, and Karnataka respectively.
The Know India Programme (KIP) is organized in order to associate the younger generation of the Indian Diaspora closely with India. Nineteen such KIPs have been organised till now. The KIP provides a unique forum for students and young professionals of Indian origin to share their views, expectations and experience to bond closely with contemporary India. Each KIP is of three weeks duration and not exceeding 40 participants. The programmes have been greatly appreciated by the past KIP participants.
2. The 20th KIP is expected to commence in April 2012, in partnership with the State Government of Goa.
3. The 21st KIP is expected to commence in August 2012, in partnership with the State Government of Uttaranchal.
4. The 22nd KIP is expected to commence in December 2012, in partnership with the State Government of Karnataka.
5. The KIP is open to youth of Indian origin [excluding Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)] in the age group of 18-26 years as on the first day of the month in which the programme is expected to commence.
6. The contents of each KIP may include the following:
i.) Presentations on the country, political process, developments in various sectors.
ii.) Interaction with faculty and students at a prestigious University / College / Institute.
iii.) Presentation on the industrial development and visits to some Industries / factories.
iv.) Visit to a village to better understand the typical village life.
v.) Exposure to Indian media.
vi.) Interaction with NGOs and organisations dealing with women affairs.
vii.) Visit to places of Historical Importance / Monuments.
viii.) Taking part in Cultural Programmes.
ix.) Call on High Dignitaries, which may include President of India, Chief Election Commissioner of India, Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Ministers-in-charge of Overseas Indian Affairs, Youth Affairs and Sports, and other dignitaries.
7. The candidates should either be holding a Graduate Degree or studying for graduation. They should be able to converse in English (they should have studied English as a subject at the High School level or should have English as a medium of instruction for under-graduate course).
8. The applicant should not have participated in any previous KIP or Internship Programme for Diaspora Youth (IPDY). Students and those who have not visited India before are encouraged to apply.
9. The applicant should also enclose a medical fitness certificate from a General Physician along with their application, stating that the participant is medically fit to take part in this 3-week KIP in India.
10. If selected for the programme, the participants would take an overseas medical insurance to cover the duration of the visit, failing which they would not be issued visa to participate in the programme.
11. The participants are provided the following hospitality / facilities in India:
i.) Local hospitality e.g. boarding / lodging in State Guest Houses or budget hotels.
ii.) Internal travel as per the Programme.
iii.) Per diem allowance of Rs.100/- for out-of-pocket expenses.
iv.) They may be granted Gratis Visa by Indian Mission / Posts abroad.
v.) 90% of the total cost of the air ticket for the cheapest economy class travel from the participant’s respective country to India and back is reimbursable to them by Indian Missions / Posts abroad after their successful participation in the KIP.
12. Selected applicants are required to abide by the regulations of the KIP as conveyed to them by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) or an agency nominated by it for the conduct of the KIP. The participants are required to offer their full cooperation in the smooth conduct of the KIP, and they are not expected to leave the KIP mid-way.
13. Nominations have to be forwarded through Indian Missions abroad and have to be endorsed by HOMs before being considered for selection. A copy of the nomination / registration forms and details of the KIP is available online at www.indianhighcommission.com.my/kip.php
14. The duly filled-in applications should be submitted either by hand / by post to:
High Commission of India,
Education Section,
No. 2, Jalan Taman Duta, Off Jalan Duta,
50480 Kuala Lumpur.15. The last date for receipt of nominations for the 20th, 21st and 22nd KIPs should be sent by 05 March 2012, 25 June 2012, and 29 October 2102 respectively.
Forms:
Application Form (PDF or Ms Word)
Guideline: Guideline KIP
references:
http://www.indianhighcommission.com.my/kip.php
http://indianhighcommission.com.my/pressview.php?Id=119
Note: thanks to Novinthen for info.
Bumiputera Education Fund
February 2nd, 2012 | Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email This a rather old news (announced on 26th November 2011), but till date I can’t find any info about this Yayasan. Don’t ask me how to apply etc.
So, RM30 million from government for this education fund, and to be supplemented by contribution from GLCs etc to the tune of RM158 million so far. Very huge some indeed.
Wonder if the same can be done for other Malaysians. We also human beings la.
In launching a new strategic roadmap to boost Bumiputera participation in the national economy, Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced today a RM30 million endowment from the government into a new private education trust fund for Malaysia’s largest ethnic community.
The Yayasan Peneraju Pendidikan Bumiputera, he said, is aimed to fund 12,000 Bumiputeras in private education all the way through to PhD level.
“Raising the capability is important to ensure the Bumiputera workforce can raise their individual potential income in line with the nation’s objective to achieve high-income status,” the prime minister said in his opening speech.
The trust fund is to start operations early next year, and is targeting to build a RM500 million fund within five years.
Najib (picture) said 21 companies and institutions have pledged a total of RM158 million for the fund to date.
Among a group 10 businesses injected funds of RM10 million each, included CIMB Bank Berhad, Felda Holdings Berhad, Sime Darby Berhad, UEM Group Berhad and Yayasan Al-Bukhary founded by magnate Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, Malaysia’s richest Bumiputera corporate figure reported to be worth US$1.7 billion (RM5.4 billion).
In his speech, Najib noted the number of registered Bumiputera professionals had risen with the most recent record in 2008 showing there are now 51,306 or 45 per cent out of the entire group of professionals nationwide.
But he said it was not enough.
Najib said the transformation roadmap is a three-pronged approach to push Bumiputera stake of the national economic pie from the existing 21.9 per cent to fulfil the original New Economic Policy goal of 30 per cent.
Apart from setting up an education fund, the government is looking to grow entrepreneurship by setting up one-stop business centres in every state or economic corridor.
Najib announced the Northern Economic Corridor Region will be the first to open its doors by the first quarter of next year.
He added that the third strategy is to groom large-scale Bumiputera businesses.
He said by setting up such an economic ecosystem where the big companies help the smaller firms, it will ultimately result in more Bumiputera businessmen.
“Among the main steps that will be taken is to encourage company participation through joint-ventures and acquisitions.
“Besides that, the divestment of GLC involvement in non-core [businesses] can create business opportunities for Bumiputera companies,” Najib said.
As an example, he highlighted the recent distribution of 43 per cent of the overall value of the MyMRT project to Bumiputera.
The PM said a separate Bumiputera unit had been set up under MRT Corp to manage the Bumiputera interest in the rail project.
More Tamil Studies Depts at Universities
January 31st, 2012 | Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email While its a good news (even though “policy level” can mean 1001 things), one should also look at the job opportunities for the graduates. Hopefully more employment can be created beyond the usual TV, radio, newspaper and entertainment industries.
HUMAN Resources Minister and MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the Higher Education Ministry has agreed at policy level to set up more Tamil studies departments in universities, Makkal Osai reported.
He said Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris had such a department and one more was in the pipeline for Universiti Utara Malaysia
source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/1/31/nation/10565989&sec=nation
