Undergrads need to develop soft skills, says Khaled

07/03/2010

SKUDAI: Undergraduates need to develop their soft skills while in university as preparation to enter the competitive job market.

Employers were no longer looking for graduates armed only with good grades, but were seeking those with effective soft skills such as the ability to communicate well and work in a team, said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin.

The main role played by universities was to impart knowledge and it was up to undergraduates to acquire the soft skills, he said at the Career Day 2010.

It was jointly organised by the Institution of Surveyors Malaysia, Johor Education Department and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia for Form Four and Five students.

Khaled also called on undergraduates to enrich their campus life with studies and extra-curricular activities, such as participating in sports events, joining societies and doing volunteer work.

He added companies or employers did not necessarily hire graduates who passed with flying colours, adding those with average academic qualification but better soft skills had a better chance of being hired.

Separately, Khaled called on parents to also change their mindset and not only limit their children’s education courses to medicine, engineering or architecture only.

Too many students were applying to study these popular courses in universities, although the chances of getting in were slim due to limited space available.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/7/nation/5813892&sec=nation

Penang education fair a hit

07/03/2010

By TAN SIN CHOW, ANN TAN and JEREMY TAN

GEORGE TOWN: Thousands of visitors thronged The Star Education Fair 2010 at the Penang International Sports Arena (Pisa), with the youngsters eager to explore their career options and doting parents taking a keen interest.

Many turned up as early as 10am, an hour before the official opening.

Among them was 18-year-old Fionseca Teh, who was hunting for a medicine-related course and did not want to miss the chance to find out more about the programmes being offered.

Go to school: Lim advising school leavers who were visiting the Education Fair at Pisa, Penang, Saturday. With them are (standing, second from left) Ngiam, Kamal Hashim and The Star Education Fund manager Susanna Kuan.

“I like biology, so something related to medicine would appeal to me,” said the former SMK Kulim student, who was accompanied by her mother Empi Naong.

Also looking for medical-related courses were friends Karitha Mahendran and Sitresh Letchuma nan, both 18.

Karitha said she had a passion for a career in medicine as she wanted to help people while Sitresh said it was a field he had always set his sights on.

The fair attracted people from near and far, with some coming from the East Coast.

Cousins Chin Han Zhong and Chong Khye Shern, both 18, and from Terengganu, were spotted at The Star Education Fund booth, getting advice on potential scholarship options.

“We knew there would be quite a variety of courses on offer, so I brought them here to explore their options,” said their uncle Teo Yee Siong.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, in his speech, said the fair, which was in its 10th year, would be helpful for students who had just completed their SPM or STPM examinations.

“School leavers can determine the choices of their studies, besides getting advice and counselling from established educators here.”

“I hope The Star will continue its tradition of holding the fair for many years to come,” he said, before launching the fair yesterday.

Also present were Star Publica tions (M) Bhd executive director Tan Sri Kamal Hashim; group managing director and chief executive officer Datin Linda Ngiam; regional operations manager Chung Chok Yin; education editor Chelsea Ng; and Penang news editor Eddie Chua.

At the Suria FM booth, former Roda Impian host Halim Osman entertained the crowd and livened up the atmosphere.

Highlights during the two-day fair which ends at 7pm today include career talks and the Spin & Win Contest where over 4,000 prizes await winners.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/7/nation/5813890&sec=nation

Perks for schools that perform well

07/03/2010

By SYLVIA LOOI

SLIM RIVER: In a move to motivate teachers, the Education Ministry will reward schools which show improvement, whether or not they are high performance schools.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the incentives would either be monetary or non-monetary, including promotions.

“Starting this year, the performance of teachers in all 10,000 schools in the country will be gauged.

It’s fun: Muhyiddin sharing a light moment with the crowd as he tries one of the Orang Asli traditional games after the launch of the Juara Rakyat programme in Slim River Saturday.

“If there is an improvement in the school’s performance, it will be taken into consideration when giving them incentives,” he told reporters yesterday after launching the state-level Juara Rakyat programme at Dataran Tasek YDP.

Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, added that all schools would receive help to be upgraded. “We are focusing on how to increase the performance of all schools by introducing a school improvement plan,” he said, adding that he would announce the details on the incentives during the Teachers Day celebration on May 16.

He also said the ministry would provide launching grants for privately run pre-schools.

On another matter, Muhyiddin said the Juara Rakyat programme was to ensure Barisan Nasional representatives touched base with the people. “Allocations have been provided by the Government for the representatives to organise activities.

“They are supposed to determine the problems plaguing the people in the area and work out how to solve it,” he said, adding that the representatives could use government agencies.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/7/nation/5813977&sec=nation

358 ditauliah pemimpin KRS

07/03/2010

SUFAAT Tumin memeriksa perbarisan unit beruniform pada majlis Pentauliahan Pemimpin Kadet Remaja Sekolah (KRS) di SMK Bandar Baru Uda, Johor Bahru, semalam.

JOHOR BAHRU 6 Mac – Seramai 358 warga Jabatan Pelajaran Johor menerima pentauliahan secara rasmi sebagai pemimpin Kadet Remaja Sekolah (KRS) di sini.

Mereka yang menerima pentauliahan itu antaranya pegawai-pegawai pelajaran daerah (PPD), pengetua, guru besar dan penolong kanan sekolah.

Majlis pentauliahan itu disempurnakan oleh Pengarah Pelajaran Johor, Sufaat Tumin di Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Bandar Baru Uda di sini hari ini.

Pegawai Pelajaran Daerah Johor Bahru, Aminuddin Adam berkata, pada majlis itu, Sufaat turut menyampaikan Anugerah Kualiti KRS kepada 59 pemimpin.

Katanya, kesemua 358 pemimpin itu memimpin dan mengendalikan 3,080 pelajar yang menyertai KRS dari 44 sekolah menengah di daerah ini.

Terdahulu, Sufaat ketika menyampaikan amanatnya, menyeru para pemimpin KRS agar menggalakkan pelajar menyertai pertubuhan beruniform tersebut.

“Menerusi KRS ia secara langsung dapat membentuk nilai-nilai murni di kalangan pelajar termasuk dari segi tingkah laku, akhlak, berdisiplin dan patuh pada ketua.

“Selain itu, menerusi KRS juga ia akan membentuk sahsiah diri termasuk dari segi daya tahan dan daya juang dan mampu menghadapi apa juga cabaran,” katanya.

Jelas Sufaat, sebagai warga pendidik, ia bukan sekadar mengajar dari segi akademik sebaliknya turut mendidik nilai-nilai moral, bertanggungjawab dan mengutamakan nilai murni dalam kehidupan secara menyeluruh.

http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2010&dt=0307&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Johor&pg=wj_02.htm

Karnival ‘Jom Masuk U’

07/03/2010

Oleh NAZARUDIN SHAHARI
utusankedah@utusan.com.my

Orang ramai termasuk pelajar lepasan SPM dan STPM mengerumuni gerai-gerai pameran pada Karnival Pengajian Tinggi Negara Zon Kedah/Perlis di Jitra, semalam.

JITRA 6 Mac – Kira-kira 10,000 orang mengunjungi Karnival Pengajian Tinggi Negara (KPTN) 2010 peringkat negeri Kedah dan Perlis di sini hari ini.

Karnival selama dua hari itu diadakan di Dewan Wawasan mulai pukul 9 pagi hingga 6 petang.

Sebaik dibuka, orang ramai kebanyakannya pelajar sekolah berpusu- pusu memenuhi sebanyak 104 gerai pameran pada program tersebut.

Sebanyak 20 institusi pengajian tinggi awam (IPTA) dan 56 institusi pengajian tinggi swasta menyertai pameran tersebut.

Selain itu, sebanyak 18 agensi seperti Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Negara (PTPTN), Jabatan Latihan Khidmat Negara, Bahagian Pendidikan Guru Kementerian Pelajaran dan Bank Simpanan Nasional menyertai pameran.

Karnival yang bertemakan ‘Jom Masuk U’ dianjurkan oleh Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi (KPT) dengan kerjasama Kementerian Pelajaran.

Pelbagai aktiviti menarik telah diadakan sepanjang karnival tersebut antaranya pameran pendidikan, maklumat kemasukan, kuiz ‘Jom Masuk U’, forum, cabutan bertuah dan cabutan perdana serta khidmat bimbingan dan kaunseling.

Program kali ini adalah siri yang ketujuh daripada 10 siri yang telah dirancang oleh KPT.

http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2010&dt=0307&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Utara&pg=wu_01.htm