Category: Literacy

The Negros Occidental provincial government has distributed some 850 computer tablets to Manapla National High School (MNHS) to boost learning through the use of technology among its Grade 7 students. The MNHS is the pilot school in the north for the implementation of the Project BONG or ‘Bata ang Ona sa Negros’ named after Governor Eugenio Jose ‘Bong’ Lacson. Ian Arnold Arnaez, information officer of the Department of Education Schools Division of Negros Occidental (DepEd-NegOcc), said on Tuesday the Project BONG is a continuing initiative and more schools will soon receive learning tablets for their students as well. In the south, schools in Cauayan town were the first to receive electronic (E)-learning gadgets in November last year. Lacson, who led the distribution of the learning tablets with Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante III, and DepEd-NegOcc Schools Division Superintendent Anthony Liobet on Monday, said there is a need to ‘ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in this modern world’. ‘It is for this reason that in addition to providing quality public education, we must also ensure that our learners are properly equipped. Thus, today’s distribution of tablets to our students,’ he added. The governor told the students to ‘never waiver on your focus and take your education seriously’. ‘The provincial government has been so responsive to the needs of our children. Maximize the use of the learning tablet, take care of it. Explore, enjoy and learn productively,’ Liobet said in his message. In Cauayan town, the recipients included more than 1,400 Grades 1 to 3 pupils for an intervention called ‘Letters and Numbers on the MoVE: Mobile Videos for Education: A Gateway for Literacy and Numeracy’. The project was conceptualized to address the need for the improvement of teaching and learning processes, and outcomes making each learner a priority, particularly in building literacy and numeracy as well as advancing in technology.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has once again advised all schools to not organise any activities outside the classroom, such as cross-country runs and sports activities, for the safety of students, given that the weather condition is still hot at the moment.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the MoE held a session with all education departments in the state to provide guidance to ensure that schools do not conduct outdoor activities at this time.

“The MoE has advised schools not to organise activities outside the classroom at this time due to the hot weather, but the postponement is temporary and depends on the (prevailing) weather conditions.

“However, there are some states where the weather is improving, so we will monitor from time to time and give guidance and advice accordingly.

“Just for the time being, I ask all schools to temporarily postpone (activities outside the classroom) until the weather really returns to normal and students can do outdoor activities safely as we need to take precautions,” she said here today.

Fadhlina, who is also the Member of Parliament for Nibong Tebal, was met at the parliamentary constituency’s Aidilfitri open house at Dewan Dato’ Haji Ahmad Salleh in Kampung Permatang Keling here, which was also attended by Education director-general Datuk Pkharuddin Ghazali and Penang Education director Abdul Rashid Abdul Samad.

Fadhlina said this when asked to comment on parental concerns about the health of school children who are at risk of heat stroke if schools conduct outdoor activities such as cross-country runs and sports activities in the current heatwave.

Meanwhile, Fadhlina said that so far no school has been closed due to the hot weather, but her ministry was taking various approaches and remains on alert for any eventuality.

“The Ministry of Health is always vigilant while management related to guidelines and monitoring are strictly carried out by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change to ensure the situation is under control,” she said.

Previously, the MoE issued a statement allowing administrators to close schools if the daily temperature status for hot weather is at warning level 2 with the highest temperature exceeding 37 degrees Celsius for three consecutive days.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

School authorities need to stop all activities outside the classroom, including co-curriculum activities as well as organising annual sports event, for the time being in view of the current hot weather for the safety of students and teachers.

Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying said although no schools in the country have been closed due to the current hot spell, they are required to take precautionary measures to avoid any untoward incidents.

“I call on students and the school population to be careful about the (current) hot weather and to drink plenty of water, as well as not hold outdoor activities,” she told a press conference after her visit to Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Taman Rakyat here today.

Earlier, Lim went on a working visit to Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Peng Mi, SJKC Keat Hwa S and Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) Barathy.

She said state education departments (JPN) nationwide monitor the hot weather conditions and precautionary measures will be taken, including implementing an effective approach to deal with the issue.

“According to the set guidelines, schools will be closed if the temperature exceeds 37 degrees Celcius, Schools will apply to the JPN, and the JPN will make a decision (regarding the closure of schools),” she said.

During the school visit, Lim announced an allocation of RM200,000 each for school maintenance for SJKC Peng Min and SJKT Barathy, and RM150,000 each to SJKC Keat Hwa S and SK Taman Rakyat.

Meanwhile, according to a Bernama report today, students, teachers and members of the implementing group in all educational institutions under the Education Ministry (MOE) are given special permission to wear appropriate sports attire during the current hot spell to avoid any health complications.

Neckties are also not mandatory for students wearing school uniforms.

According to the Guidelines for the Closure of Educational Institutions under the MOE During the Hot Weather dated April 28, 2023, schools are allowed to close if the hot weather is at the level two warning with temperature exceeding 37 degrees Celcius for three consecutive days.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) has set a target to have at least 400 Orang Asli students continue their studies at public universities or private higher education institutions this year, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, said through the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA), the ministry planned to give RM1,000 to every student who manage to pursue their tertiary studies.

He said the target was set following the achievement of the previous target involving 300 Orang Asli students, adding that he believes the new target is achievable based on their potential and the government’s development programmes.

“I see great potential among the Orang Asli, we should not underestimate their existence in Malaysia. I have also authorised Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor to be the chairman of the Orang Asli Advancement and Development secretariat.

“… (this) is to help JAKOA in terms of development, programmes and projects as well as matters related to Orang Asli education including to provide them the opportunities to learn,” he said at the Aidilfitri open house hosted by the Pahang UMNO liaison committee at Laman Sejahtera Sungai Koyan here today.

Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail who is also UMNO vice president, national and state UMNO leaders were also present at the event attended by more than 10,000 guests from various walks of life.

Ahmad Zahid also gave his assurance that the government will continue to improve infrastructure in Orang Asli villages including water supply and electricity as well as housing through JAKOA and KKDW allocations.

“I do my best because I am the rural minister who takes care of villagers and never abandon the Malays, Orang Asli, Siamese or Chinese and Indians as long as they live in the rural areas.

“…the RM11.08 billion allocation given to KKDW will be best used to help develop the people,” the UMNO president said.

Ahmad Zahid also visited the Royal Pahang Weaving Centre at Pos Betau here, which has four weavers from the Orang Asli women who received training at the Tengku Ampuan Besar Meriam Royal Pahang Weaving Skills Institute in Pekan and the Orang Asli Patient Transit building, established to accommodate Orang Asli patients and their family members.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Professor Vladimir Kolotov, head of the Ho Chi Minh Institute at St. Petersburg University in Russia, has highlighted President Ho Chi Minh’s ideology in the victory on April 30, 1975.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the liberation of the South and National Reunification Day (April 30), Kolotov said the victory proved that Vietnam could win over powerful opponents like the US and France in the struggle for national independence national reunification.

The professor also commended the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) in the past struggle, stressing that a nation with a strong will can earn the victory.

He added that President Ho Chi Minh’s ideology is being carried forward in Vietnam at present.

Ann Byong-chan, a former reporter of the Hankook Ilbo ? a sister paper of The Korea Times, still remembered the final chaotic days of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) 48 years ago.

Ann, who reported news of Vietnam for three years, said he was the last Korean reporter in Vietnam at that time, and he felt lucky for that.

The former report said he hopes that his articles and documents on Saigon will be preserved at a library.

Meanwhile, Former Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Fredesmán Turró González, who first arrived in Vietnam in 1968, told the VNA’s correspondent in Havana that April 30, 1975 was an extraordinary landmark.

At that time, the staff of the Cuban Embassy in Hanoi also poured out onto the streets to celebrate with the Vietnamese people, embracing anyone they met like brothers and sisters, he recounted.

He lauded Vietnam’s impressive achievements in socio-economic development, especially after the 6th National Party Congress adopted the reform policy in December 1986.

Vietnam has been an active member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and has maintained diplomatic ties with more than 190 countries worldwide, he said, noting that the country is playing an important role in the international arena.

National reunification, peace and stability have brought about more cooperation opportunities to Vietnam, he said./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The government-run Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) graduate topped the Civil Engineering Board Exams. With a 92.10 percent rating, Alexis Castillo Alegado from the farming village of Oaig-Upay-Abulao in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, shared the top spot with Garret Wilkenson Ching Sia from the De La Salle University in Manila. The 2022 cum laude graduate of MMSU and Sia led the 5,887 passers or 34 percent of the 16,936 takers of the April 2023 examination. The MMSU had an overall 41.56% passing rate. Alegado’s father is a farmer while his mother takes in laundry to help provide for the family. The Alegado family is a beneficiary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid sa Pamilyang Pilipino Programs (4Ps). DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez said Alegado’s academic success and his topping the 2023 Civil Engineering Licensure Examinations is a concrete indication that DSWD’s 4Ps is a valuable tool in effectively investing in human capital. ‘Patunay po ang tagumpay ni Engr. Alexis Alegado na ang ating 4Ps ay napakahalaga sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino para mapagtapos sa kolehiyo ang kanilang mga anak na siyang makakatulong para sa pag-angat mula sa kahirapan (Engr. Alexis Alegado’s success shows that 4Ps plays an important role for children to graduate from college to lift their family from poverty),’ Lopez said in a statement released on Saturday. The DSWD’s 4Ps program is a human development measure of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor to improve the health, nutrition and education, particularly of children aged 0-18. An initial report sent by the DSWD Field Office 1 said Alegado was also a student-beneficiary of the Expanded Student’s Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA) program which made him automatically qualified for the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) under Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act. Beneficiaries under ESGP-PA are poor but deserving students from families listed in the DSWD’s 4Ps program. They can enroll in selected State Universities and Colleges taking up the Commission on Higher Education’s priority programs and other course offerings within the government’s key growth areas. TES is one of the four programs under RA 10931 which will provide funding for qualified Filipino students from the poorest-of-the-poor households enrolled in public and private Higher Educational Institutions.

Source: Philippines News Agency