Category: Literacy

DUNGUN, Oct 3 — Face-to-face school sessions involving 47,000 students in Terengganu, Kelantan and Langkawi, Kedah which commenced today went smoothly.

Senior Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin said overall, schools had successfully complied with the stipulated procedures and guidelines to prevent COVID-19 infection, including the ventilation aspect in classrooms which had been emphasized by the ministry previously.

“The ventilation in almost all classes is at the optimum level and students and teachers are wearing face masks in the classrooms.

“Everything is going well, including the rotation system. As we have announced before, only half of the students will be in the classroom while the rest will be studying at home. This will allow them to maintain physical distance and we also hope that the admission and dispersal of students can be done in an orderly manner.”

He said this to reporters after observing the face-to-face school session at Sekolah Menengah Sains Dungun here today.

Earlier, Radzi also visited several other schools including Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Sultan Sulaiman in Kuala Terengganu; Sekolah Menengah Agama Marang in Marang; and SMK Tengku Intan Zaharah in Dungun.

Meanwhile, Radzi said more than 80 per cent of Form Five and Form Six students nationwide had received the COVID-19 vaccine.

He said in general, the vaccination process for Form One to Form Five students was going well so far and the number of vaccine recipients among the group had increased quite quickly.

“Almost all Form Six and Form Five students have been inoculated. Now, (the vaccination process) is being implemented in stages. Some will be done in schools like SMK Sultan Sulaiman (Kuala Terengganu) today which is the vaccination centre for two schools,” he said.

In a related development, Radzi said the decision not to allow some 2,000 teachers who refused to be vaccinated to conduct face-to-face lessons would not affect the teaching and learning sessions either in school or at home.

“We have identified their schools and subjects that they teach. Therefore, when I said that there is a huge possibility of them being transferred out, it does not mean that they can conduct face-to-face lessons in the other school. No.

“There are cases where almost all teachers who teach the same subject refuse to be vaccinated. That is why we decided that these teachers need to be transferred out to ensure that the posts are not affected. But for now, these teachers are given other tasks,” he said.

Meanwhile, Radzi said the decision to start the 2022 academic calendar in March was made based on in-depth discussions with various parties including teachers, parent-teacher associations representatives in several states, principals, headmasters and experts.

“We make this decision so that we can make full use of January and February to ensure our children are truly ready to advance to the next class.

“We are confident that this approach will give enough time for our children to be prepared and ensure they achieve the minimum level of mastery before proceeding to the next class,” he said.

Previously, Radzi said the 2021 schooling session will be extended to March 2022 so that intervention among weak students can be carried out on the grounds that they have not attended classes for some time.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — The Arabic Language portal of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) has become an additional source of reference for teaching Arabic at the Faculty of Islamic Studies of the National University of Malaysia (UKM), especially for students who are non-native speakers of the language.

Former deputy dean of the faculty, Associate Professor Dr. Zamri Arifin, said the portal provides a variety of local news in Arabic that caters to the needs of students.

“We cannot find reading material like this in that language except on Bernama’s official portal.

“Through (Bernama), our students can learn and know various Arabic terms through political news, economics, health, and so on; while other news agencies are used to increase knowledge on international news,” he told Bernama in an exclusive interview.

He said the various information obtained from the website supports the teaching and learning process of Arabic, such as language proficiency and article writing.

“By using this method, we have received positive feedback from the students,” said Dr Zamri.

Dr. Zamri added that the Arabic language portal has a bright future as it keeps up with the the times, and hopes that it will feature audio visual media and joint activities such as webinars.

Bernama established the Arabic language portal on Oct 24, 2002, to channel news on politics, economy, investment, tourism, education and Islamic religious affairs to 18 news organisations in Arab countries.

The portal contains translations of news, feature articles and special reports produced by Bernama, as well as quotes from authoritative newspapers that are related to the development of Islam in Malaysia or relevant to the relationship between Malaysia and Arab countries.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 20 — The Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will be implementing the Small Information Technology and Telecommunication Devices Recycling Project (KITAR) to foster the spirit of recycling, especially involving old and damaged devices (mobile e-waste).

As such, MCMC today announced a call for collaboration (CFC) to companies interested in submitting proposal papers for the KITAR project.

MCMC said the CFC covers several project scopes namely logistics, recycling operations, and tracking platforms.

“Any company interested can submit a proposal paper for one, two or for all three scopes,” it said in a statement.

MCMC said applicants need to ensure that the proposal paper submitted meets the criteria that have been outlined in the CFC document.

“All proposals submitted are subject to approval by MCMC,” the commission said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 — The STS forum, a non-profit organisation will hold its 18th Annual Meeting from Oct 2 to 5, which will be LIVE ONLINE from Kyoto, Japan.

World leaders, including professional scientists, policymakers and business leaders, will gather online to discuss the pressing science and technology issues the world is facing and to build an international network.

The forum will host 20 sessions online this year. Some examples of the topics are ‘Global Pandemic–Lessons Learned and Forecast’; ‘Green Recovery for Sustainable Society’; ‘Disruptive Technologies for Industries’; and, ‘The Second Quantum Revolution and Society’.

According to a statement, more than 100 distinguished speakers have confirmed their online presence.

Among others, Policymakers: Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner, European Commission, EU; Laksana Tri Handoko, Chairman, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia; Helen Elizabeth Clark, 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Business leaders: Nathan Myhrvold, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Intellectual Ventures, U.S.A.; Terry Brady, President and CEO, Underwriters Laboratories Inc, U.S.A.; and, Ahmad O. Al-Khowaiter, Chief Technology Officer, Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Saudi Arabia.

Academia: Anthony S. Fauci, Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, U.S.A.; George Fu Gao, Director-General, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China; and, Gerald H. Haug, President, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany.

International organisation/media: Seth Berkley, CEO, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; Magdalena Skipper, Editor-in-Chief, Nature, U.K.; and, Holden Thorp, Editor-in-Chief, Science, U.S.A.

Invitation requests can be submitted from https://www.stsforum.org/kyoto2021/ or more details available at https://www.stsforum.org/

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

MELAKA, Sept 16 — Oratist Abdul Malik Mohamad Shah did not let a virtual oratory competition stand in his way of delivering a strong performance to win not one but three awards at the national-level Yang Dipertua Negeri of Melaka Cup oratory competition (PPRN) with the theme “Rukun Negara as a Principle of Unity for the Success and Stability of the People”.

The Bahasa Malaysia teacher impressed the judges with his eloquence and valid arguments to be crowned winner of the final round of the public speaking competition held online at Seri Negeri, here, today.

The Malaysia Day celebration today was even more momentous for Abdul Malik when earlier he walked away with the competition’s Public category as well as Best Orator, thus beating 25 finalists from the five competing categories.

Clad in a red Baju Melayu, complete with headgear, Abdul Malik took home a cash prize of RM5,000 and a trophy among others after beating Zaid Mohd Roslan Ahmad Burhan of Melaka and Terengganu’s Sidaqi A. Rahim.

Zaid took second spot in the Public category and won the Best Speech award.

Meanwhile, displaying fluency in Malay and in an understated style, P. Selvi emerged champion in the non-Malay category. She highlighted the idea of harmony in society to carry her to her win.

The Melakan, who works as a part-time tutor, took home RM3,000 in cash after beating Haw Wai Kiat from Selangor and GT Shagaan from Negeri Sembilan into second and third places respectively, and she also won the Special Jury Award for Best Dress (non-Malays).

The youngest participant, Hayfa Adni Nasarudin topped the Primary School category triumphing over second-placed Ramadhani Noor Mohamad and Nur Wadah Mohd Adli (third place).

Hayfa Adni, a student of Sekolah Kebangsaan Jerantut, Pahang, took home a RM1,000 cash prize among others.

Meanwhile, the Secondary School category was won by Aiena Batrisya Sulaiman from Tunku Kurshiah College, Negeri Sembilan who won a RM1,500 cash prize along with an accompanying trophy, among others besides winning the Special Jury Award for Best Speech.

Aiena, who was attired in traditional dress, defeated Najihah Kasim from Sekolah Menengah (SM) Sains Muzaffar Syah, Melaka, and Della Wong Shuen Tze from SM Jenis Kebangsaan Ken Wha, Sabah.

Meanwhile, International Islamic University Malaysia student, Khairul Aizat Yusoff emerged champion in the Higher Education Institution category when he defeated Muhammad Khair Aiman Khairul Azhar from Temenggong Ibrahim Teachers’ Training Institute, Johor and Nurul Hikmah Rumaini from Universiti Teknologi Mara Sarawak.

A total of 970 entries for five categories were received for the competition.

The hybrid competition was officiated by the Yang Dipertua Negeri Melaka, Tun Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam. Also present was Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 — The Education Ministry (MOE) explained today that schools nationwide will reopen in stages according to the phases of the National Recovery Plan (PPN).

Senior Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin said that schools in Phase One states of the PPN would not reopen.

He clarified the matter as the ministry found that there were still some who mistakenly thought that all schools nationwide would reopen on Oct 3, although details of the reopening were explained yesterday.

Radzi said the findings were identified based on his observation of the feedback shared on various platforms, including social media, about his announcement of school re-openings yesterday.

“From the feedback we received directly or through media, including social media, we found that there are still some who think that come Oct 3, all schools in the country will reopen,” he said in a video recording that was shared with the media today to explain the way schools would operate.

Radzi also said that for states in Phase Two of the PPN, only primary schools with special needs pupils at Special Needs Public Schools (SKPK) and Integrated Special Education Programmes (PPKI) would reopen, while for secondary schools, only Form 6 students in Semester 2 who will be sitting for their Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examinations at the end of October will be involved.

“For states under Phase Three of the PPN, apart from special needs pupils at SKPK and PPKI, pre-school pupils, Form Five students and other STPM students will be involved.

“For states under Phase Four of the PPN, the first two weeks, from Oct 3 to 17, will involve similar students as those in Phase Three states, before it is expanded to Year One, Two and Three students from Oct 17 to 31, followed by Year Four, Five and Six (at the end of October),” he said.

For secondary schools, Radzi said learning sessions will begin with Form Five and Form Six students from Oct 3 to 17, followed in stages by Form Three, Four, One and Two students.

He said the reopening, to be done in stages at 50 per cent classroom capacity, was to ensure students could follow their studies closely in schools, and also attend school in a safe environment.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 12 — Schools will reopen in stages from Oct 3 according to the phases of states under the National Recovery Plan (PPN), Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Radzi Jidin said.

In a media conference to announce the reopening of schools today, Radzi, who is also a senior minister, said the 2021 schooling session will be extended to March 2022 so that intervention among weak students can be carried out on the grounds that they have not attended classes for some time.

In addition, he said students will take turns to attend school, with attendance set at 50 per cent of the classroom capacity to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Radzi said all schools in Phase One of PPN, however, will remain closed and their students will continue with home-based teaching and learning (PdPR).

As for Phase Two states, special needs students will be allowed to attend school without any rotation while primary pupils will continue with PdPR.

He said for secondary students in Phase Two, only Form Six second semester students, third semester students of Sports Schools pre-university programmes and those taking international examinations will be allowed to attend school.

As for states in Phase 3 of the PPN, the reopening of schools will also include preschool and private kindergarten pupils without rotation, while for secondary schools, it will involve full boarding school students sitting for public examinations (without rotation) and daily or private schools sitting for public examinations (rotation), Radzi said.

For states in Phase 4, he said Years One, Two, Three will attend school on a rotational basis from Oct 17 onwards, he added, while Years Four, Five and Six will do the same, also on rotation, from Oct 31.

“Also beginning Oct 17, public examination classes, Form Three and Form Four students in full boarding schools will be allowed to attend classes on a rotational basis, while those in Forms One, Two and Three in daily and private schools will attend on a rotational basis. Form One and Form Two will continue with PdPR,” he said.

On vocational schools, Radzi said schooling will first resume with Phase two states and onwards on rotation according to the examinations they are sitting for and semesters they are in.

He also said that Institutes of Teacher Education (IPG) and Matriculation College students in Phase One and Two will continue PdPR, while those in Phases Three and Four who have been fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine will be given the choice to attend campus while those unvaccinated will continue with PdPR.

In addition, Radzi central region private education institutes (IPS) in Phase One and Phase Two states will operate via PdPR while for pupils aged four to six in Phase Three, classes will operate fully while other classes will operate on rotation with a 50 per cent class capacity

For Phase Four students, class capacity is increased to 70 per cent, also on rotation, from Oct 17 while full capacity with physical distancing will be allowed from Oct 31.

He said that the reopening of schools in areas that have been classified as travel bubbles will follow Phase Four operations.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency