Category: Literacy

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 13 (Bernama) — The Education Ministry (MOE) has identified a total of 830 schools as having buildings that require replacement or redevelopment as of Jan 31.

It said in a statement today that the MOE would prioritise the replacement of school buildings that are on Scale Six and Scale Seven according to the impact grade score analysis.

“The number of dilapidated buildings is dynamic and in line with the completion of the implementation of redevelopment and the acceptance of the building security levels recommended by technical agencies.

“Projects selected for the implementation approval are schools with dilapidated buildings on Scale Six and Scale Seven,” it said.

Scale Six refers to buildings that are unsafe and with confirmation by the District Education Office (PPD) and the State Education Department (JPN) while Scale Seven refers to unsafe buildings with confirmation by the Public Works Department (JKR).

The MOE said it was committed to providing a safe and conducive education infrastructure that for the use of students and school staff across the country.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek was yesterday reported to have said that the development of dilapidated schools nationwide will be implemented in phases and the most important phase would be after the tabling of Budget 2023 on Feb 24.

Meanwhile, the MOE also expressed its appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for his concern in giving priority to the issue of dilapidated schools.

On Feb 11, Anwar said the government’s focus was to quickly solve the problem of dilapidated schools throughout Malaysia for the welfare of the children as well as to improve the quality of education in the country.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

BORACAY (Philippines), Jan 7 (Bernama) — Malaysia is interested in exploring emerging technology such as the next generation technology in 5G and broadcasting technology from the United States (US), said the Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Mentek.

During a courtesy call by the US delegation on the sidelines of the 3rd ASEAN Digital Senior Officials’ Meeting (ADGSOM) here today, Mohammad spoke about Malaysia’s plans on digital economy and encouraged more collaboration between the two countries.

He also spoke about cybersecurity, data protection and anti scamming programmes, emphasising that Malaysia was keen to explore these areas.

During the meeting, the US deputy assistant secretary for International Information and Communications Policy, Steve Lang, who led the US delegation, invited Malaysia to participate in a series of workshop – starting with Facilitating Cross-Border Data Flows in Southeast Asia.

Also present were KKD Undersecretary of International Division Mano Verabathran as well as US Foreign Affairs Officer, Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy Eng Gin Moe; Economic Officer, U.S Mission to ASEAN Henry Fung; and Economic Specialist, US Embassy Manila Mich Clutton.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 (Bernama) — The Ministry of Education (MOE) has expressed condolences over the passing of a husband and wife who were teachers at Sekolah Menengah Agama Persekutuan Kajang in an accident on the East Coast Highway 2 (LPT2) yesterday afternoon.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek in a Facebook post today expressed her deepest condolences to the family of Arbain Baharudin, 47, and his wife Rosmawati Bakar @ Lalar, 48.

“May the family be patient and persevere through this huge test. We pray that both of their souls will be blessed and placed among the believers. Al-Fatihah,” read the post.

In the 4 pm incident, the couple were killed when their multi-purpose vehicle crashed at KM274 of the LPT2 near the Cheneh toll plaza exit.

The couple’s children, Farah Najwa, 20, Fatin Najla, 10, and Faikal Nabila, eight, sustained minor injuries.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

JOHOR BAHRU, Feb 2 (Bernama) — Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has launched an ‘enVision Moonshot’ initiative as a catalyst in realising the UTM enVision Strategic Plan 2025 to produce forward-looking and advanced technology-based research graduates.

UTM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Fauzi Ismail said the initiative adopting a radical, fast and efficient approach outlines four main focuses which are to produce quality graduates who able to take the lead in solving complex problems through knowledge and research.

The focus is also on achieving global excellence as the country’s leading technology-based research university, as well as taking advantage of high technology by applying the quadruple helix approach.

“UTM’s status as the country’s leading research university based on science, technology and engineering must continue to be strengthened in the face of various global systemic challenges, hence UTM introduces enVision Moonshot to meet national aspirations as outlined by the Ministry of Higher Education.

“Through the enVision Moonshot platform, UTM is committed to producing quality graduates through the Empowerment Programme 5 ETP (Excellence Track Programme), offering academic programmes and forward-looking curriculum review and student union empowerment,” he said when addressing the university community at the Sultan Iskandar Hall, UTM here today.

The event, which was attended by about 3,391 UTM staff members, was also broadcast live at the UTM Kuala Lumpur campus and the UTM Pagoh campus, Muar.

Ahmad Fauzi said UTM has identified four new niche fields of expertise namely Digitalisation, Affordable Housing, Agriculture Tech & Food Security and Natural Resources & Spiritual Tech, with all of them to be added to the existing four areas of expertise namely Water, Energy, Materials and Robots.

He said all areas of excellence will be placed under the Fantastic Four + (F4+) strategy in driving civilisation studies at UTM through new knowledge and focused research thus making UTM a hub and leader in solving complex universal problems.

He said in order to achieve Global Excellence, UTM will explore strategic collaborations with the European Union and renowned foreign universities that are thriving as well as targeting the setting up of six Institutional or Industrial Satellite Laboratories either inbound or outbound.

He added that perceptions and bureaucracy often become constraints in successful collaboration between university entities, agencies, industry and the community, therefore intelligent collaboration across entities should be forged in an effort to improve the wellbeing of the people.

He said UTM would continue to intensify the quadruple helix approach by establishing cooperative relationships between staff and external stakeholders and utilising advanced technological innovation to solve systemic problems by establishing a consortium under the AIMS4STAR agenda.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 30 (Bernama) — The Higher Education Ministry (KPT) hopes to introduce a free studies sponsorship programme for first-generation students from poor families who are able to pursue studies at institutions of higher learning.

Its minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the matter will be tabled to the Cabinet for approval.

“It is a measure to end poverty through knowledge and skills,” he said when speaking at the ministry’s New Year Mandate here today.

Mohamed Khaled said the ministry also planned to give the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) new touch by studying the suitability of turning it into a national trust fund.

“We want to reduce PTPTN’s debt burden to ensure its sustainability and make it a national education financing institution that allows all individuals from inside and outside the country to contribute to the funding of the country’s higher education,” he said.

He said the ministry was also exploring a flexible education by combining face-to-face and virtual elements to take advantage of digital platforms and technology as such an approach would have a significant impact on reducing the cost of education.

Regarding the selection of leadership at institutions of higher learning (IPT) and agencies under the ministry, Mohamed Khaled said, it would go through a strict, thorough and objective screening process to ensure the positions would be filled by the most qualified and credible candidates.

He said the strict screening would be conducted to reflect the professional, fair, objective and non-political attitude of the ministry in translating the various national policies and programmes.

“The country needs an efficient and excellent higher education sector. This must start with credible and high-performing leadership,” he said.

He also called on the ministry’s staff to educate students to be on the right track to meet academic standards and intellectual culture.

The ministry, he said, no longer focused on soft and practical skills, but on the need to be equipped with artificial intelligence for managing people and technology.

“Maturity in controlling emotions, multilingual skills, negotiation skills, the ability to lead discussions and work effectively in a team. It’s all smart skills,” he said.

He also said that a major overhaul would be done to the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme to strengthen the system and ecosystem towards producing more skilled and technologically competent students.

“The country needs many individuals who have skills and technological competence that are future-proof,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA– The Education Ministry has assured that over RM100,000 worth of early schooling aid that was stolen in an incident in Beranang, Selangor will be reimbursed and distributed to students before the school session starts in March.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said her ministry was currently waiting for the response and approval from the Ministry of Finance (MOF) on the reimbursement.

“The lost money will be reimbursed. Don’t worry, it’s the children’s right (to receive the aid). We feel sorry over the error and regret that this incident occurred,” she said in a press conference after delivering her new year’s address to ministry staff here, today.

She said the principal of the school would also be investigated according to the civil servants’ disciplinary code, because there was a breach of the standard operating procedures (SOP) during the withdrawal of the funds.

The ministry, she said, had handed over the matter to be investigated by the police and the Selangor State Education Department (JPN), and that the Selangor JPN had also met with the principal and would be announcing the result of the probe later.

On Jan 16, over RM100,000 in early school aid withdrawn from a bank by a school principal was reportedly stolen from his car. He was believed to have been alone during the withdrawal procedure.

In another development, Fadhlina called on members of the public or teachers not to share or spread fighting incidents involving students, and instead, protect the group to help build a healthy and safe ecosystem.

“The Ministry of Education firmly holds to the principle of protecting children in terms of their identity and that of the school, because the viral incident will have a long-lasting impact,” she said.

On the bullying incident that was reported to have occurred at a school in Sabah yesterday, Fadhlina said the Sabah JPN had been directed to take action over the matter.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency