Posts Tagged ‘Education’

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Selangor gives aid to tamil schools

June 28th, 2009
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Charles Santiago (MP Klang) provides the details on his blog. Basically, the state government is “going to” build 10 pre-schools in Tamil schools.  According to Xavier Jayakumar, the effort will be jointly done with three NGOs, and expected 30-40 pre-schools to be established in three years.

According to him, about 42 percent of students who enter year one in SJKT do not know how to read and write, due to the inability of the low-income parents to send them to pre-schools. The state government will offer “discounts” to these parents.

Xavier presented RM1.6 million to 3 NGOs – Child Information Learning and Development Centre (Child)  (RM300,000), Education Welfare and Research Foundation (EWRF) (RM150,000) andTamil Foundation (RM182,250).

Among the schools targetted are : SJKT Taman Permata and SJKT Ladang Ampar Tenang, Dengkil; SJKT Ladang Bukit Raja, Klang; SJKT Ladang Sungai Terap, Kuala Selangor and SJKT Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi Sepang.

He added that approval and cooperation from parents, school and school board is needed. If there’s not approval, they will look for other schools. Teachers will hired and provided proper training.

Note: the amount given to NGOs did not total up to RM1.6 million. Another posting in his blog mentioned that 27 Tamil schools also received cheques, so maybe its included in the RM1.6 million. Let’s see if this appears in major papers later.

SJKT Bukit Darah also has plans to start a pre-school, so hopefully it can be included.

My question: doesn’t it require Ministry of Education (federal) approval on premise use, syllabus, teacher hiring, etc?

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Posted in Indian, Tamil-Schools

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Putera MIC online chat on education opportunities

June 27th, 2009
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Putera MIC conducted their first ever (and I believe a first for any Indian political party) online chat on tertiary education for students. The chat was on their website. According to Malaysiakini:

The discussions – which lasted for seven hours – involved more than 50 people who were eager to find out about opportunities available in universities and other colleges.

The discussions dealt with a number of issues including grouses by students who had been offered courses that they did not apply for and the apprehension some had in studying at Universiti Malaysia Sabah in Labuan and the Universiti Malaysia Terengganu in Kuala Terengganu.

There were also enquiries pertaining to the availability of scholarships, study grants and loans.

According to the panel of moderators, one option was for students to explore the Higher Education Ministry’s post-graduate study grants.

Students needing financial help were asked to check several websites (link is down – I checked twice in space of 11 hours) to find a comprehensive list of scholarships and grants available from various sources including the private and public sectors.

The MIC wing also offered students the option to check on job vacancies and scholarships via Facebook.

The online chat began at 10.30am and ended at 5.30pm.

The session was moderated by Putera MIC members who were former university students as well as several local university staff members.

Putera chief coordinator P Kamalanathan said he was happy with the response to the live chats.

“Based on the good response, we would extend this chat session to discuss other issues as well,” he told Malaysiakini.

Its a good effort. However, they should have done more publicity by informing the cyber community in advance of such a chat session.

Secondly, the Facebook link points to a group called United Malaysian Indian. Not sure how the two entities are related as I believe the FB group is not politically-affiliated with any party. Anyway, possibly a misreporting or just ad-hoc c0operation between them.

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Posted in Indian, TechStuff

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Appeal for IPTA via MCA

June 25th, 2009
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Update:

Link to the appeal form as provided by Novinthen:

http://youth.mca.org.my/Chinese/Form%20Library/Borang%20Rayuan%20IPTA%20lepasan%20STPM%202009v2.pdf

No harm in giving a try, though I assume its for the Chinese students only.

Those who have had their public university applications rejected and need the MCA’s help should file their appeals by tomorrow.

They can do so by downloading the MCA National Youth Appeal form at youth.mca.org.my.

Submit the form to Biro Pendidikan Pemuda MCA Kebangsaan, 7th floor Wisma MCA, 163 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur.

For enquiries, contact the MCA Youth Secretariat at 03-2161 8044.

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Caring for school with single student

June 24th, 2009
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I first heard this via the 8am news on Minnal FM. Then saw the article in NST:

A school with only one pupil is no reason for the government to shut it down.

This was the undertaking given by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin when asked on the case of SRJK (T) Ladang Sungai Timah in Teluk Intan, which has only one student.

However, Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said the government had advised schools with low enrolments to register students in larger schools nearby.

This, he said, would provide students with a better learning environment and better interaction with their peers.

“These cases are prevalent, especially among Tamil schools. Whatever it is, we leave it to the discretion of the school’s management.

“This is a considerate government and we will not shut schools like this. The student wants to study, so let her.”

K. Humah, 12, is a Year Six student and had been the sole student at the school, which has three academic staff and a gardener, since her first year.

Muhyiddin agreed that any attempt to close the school would be politicised.

“If that happens, some within the community would accuse the government of not caring for their education.”

Only thing missing was the announcement of some immediate allocation to improve something in the school.

Now, if I was  really caring and had the power, I would advise the student to shift to another Tamil school nearby, or make arrangements to provide transport. Then, I’ll proceed to authorise the transfer of the school to another location where there is high probability of more students registering.

The girl is in Standard Six. 4 more months and she will be ex-student. Nor is it practical to ask her to move in the midst of UPSR year. What will be the status of the school in 6 months time? No students enrolled in any other year. Unless the school manage to get some students enrolled for Year One next year, the school will be closed down, no? So, another Tamil school closed down due to “considerate” attitude? If not closed down, then what? Empty of students, the staff do what everyday?

As we all are well aware, there’s no new vernacular school license being issued. Thus the only way to survive is to relocate schools with very small enrolment to different locations. The authority to provide permission to transfer school license lies with…hmmm…..

Is there an attempt to pull our legs here?

Earlier in April (if I’m not mistaken), there was similar act in being “considerate” to the plight of SJKT Ladang Bukit Jalil, by asking to increase the number of classrooms in the original plan. But the actual problem is the small land allocation in the MIDST of a cemetary and temple. This was being protested by the  parents and PIBG of  SJKT Ladang Bukit Jalil as its an unconducive environment. The land allocated also did not consider future expansion and increased enrolment.

I smell a rat here.

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deservedly creative…

June 7th, 2009
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Telephone dialogue:

Student: Hello?

X: Hi Student, how are you? This Ms. X from the university calling.

Student: Good morning, maam! What is the matter you are calling me today?

X: As you know, a great VIP is coming down next week. Students should take this chance to meet the person who famous worldwide. So, do come for the award session, OK?

Student: Oh maam, this is study week for exam. We are having exam next week. I can’t afford to attend the ceremony.

X: I know. That’s why we will give you 5 marks for attending the ceremony. How? OK or not?

Student: 5 marks? Hmm…make it 10 and I’ll attend (grins to himself).

X: 10 cannot la. 5 is OK.

Student: OK, I’ll try to attend it. 5 marks can help me to pass some subject.

X: OK, make sure you remind me to mark your attendance on that day. Bye.

Student: Bye.

Now, what kind quality education you expect to get if by attending a award presentation ceremony, you get 5 marks for your subject? Who decided on this modus operandi? Does MQA know about this?

Really creative place to study.

Did I mention about having a “rehearsal” when the rest of the organization is on leave and the bunch of wise leaders ask their department people to attend? No food because cafe is closed (public holiday, duh!). No general workers around (something about lack of written memo – maybe they worried no OT). Academicians have to arrange tables and chairs.

And they have the gall to ask to come again on Sunday.

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Posted in BornInMalaysia, Personal

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