Rosmah proud of students’ progress

02/06/2010

KUALA LUMPUR: The Prime Minister’s wife is very happy and proud of the progress made by students of the Permata Pintar Negara programme.

Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor said although the number of students under the programme this year was fewer compared to last year, the highest mark scored this year was better.

Rosmah, who is also the chairman of the National Permata Policy Executive Committee, said the highest mark increased from 60% in 2009 to 73% in 2010.

“About 199,867 students successfully completed the UKM-1 test, which was held from March 1 to May 31 this year, with 3,518 of them qualified to take the UKM-2 test,” she told reporters at her home in Taman Duta yesterday.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/6/2/nation/6384185&sec=nation

‘Weaker Felda kids should go for work courses’

02/06/2010

MUADZAM SHAH: Children of Felda settlers who fail to gain places in universities or are jobless should be given the opportunity to undergo skilled work courses instead.

Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Maznah Mazlan said the courses could give these youths a chance to gain education up to the advanced diploma level.

Maznah said that among the courses offered were skills in handicraft, automobile repairs, electrical, catering and cosmetics, depending on their interest and commitment.

She said youths with SPM certificates could attend Level 1 of each of the courses, which lasts for six months.

“They can continue their studies to Level 2, 3 and up to Level 5, which is equivalent to attending an advanced diploma course,” Maznah said in her speech after meeting settlers in Felda Selancar 2 settlement, here on Monday.

Maznah said there were parents who refused to send their children to attend skilled-work courses because they believed that their children would be wasting their time.

“It may not be necessary for the youths to seek employment. They can conduct their own businesses and open their own shops or outlets.

“They can even open their own food stalls or even restaurants if they have skills in food catering,” she added.

Maznah also said that skilled workers who had acquired the Malaysian Skills Certificate until Level 5 will be able to further their studies to degree and doctorate levels.

The Malaysian Skills Certificate is offered to workers with no formal education to learn skills. The certification enables the holder to be recognised by the industry as a worker or supplier.

Maznah later visited a settler Saad Ahmad, 54, a diabetes patient, at his house in Selancar 2.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/6/2/nation/6385518&sec=nation

Truant teachers slammed

02/06/2010

KOTA KINABALU: A state minister is asking for tough disciplinary action to be taken against teachers who “play truant” by taking early leave before the upcoming school holidays on June 5.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun, whose portfolio includes education matters, said such irresponsible action by teachers must not be allowed to go on.

“We must use the stick when necessary,” he said here yesterday.

“The Government has invested so much money in rural education and what these truant teachers are doing only negate these efforts.”

He said this when asked about reports quoting Sabah Education Department director Dr Muhiddin Yassin that recent checks by the Education Ministry’s school inspectorate officials found that some teachers had taken “early holidays”.

The teachers concerned had gone home to the peninsula well before the June school holidays began.

Parents had complained of the teachers taking leave as early as May 24.

Dr Muhiddin had said the department would not tolerate absenteeism among its teaching and non-teaching staff.

He said the department here was awaiting a full report from the inspectorate before initiating disciplinary action against errant teachers.

Dr Muhiddin acknowledged that the department had received complaints of absent teachers but action could not be taken as there was a lack of details such as names and dates.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/6/2/nation/6385519&sec=nation

Ministry to eliminate criminal activities in Rawang school

02/06/2010

KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry is giving priority to eliminating the alleged criminal activities in SMK Seri Garing in Rawang.

Ministry director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom has directed the Selangor education department and Rawang education office to improve the school’s image.

“We will focus on sports activities and get the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) to set up a crime prevention club at the school,” said Alimuddin at the Institute of Teacher Education Ma laysia, International Languages Campus (IPGM-KBA) yesterday.

He said the MCPF had organised similar clubs in 7,000 schools. Alimuddin added that cooperation would be fostered with the parent-teacher association, various non-government organisations and the police.

A Starprobe report on May 25 highlighted rampant illegal activities in the co-educational school, including triad activities, sexual crimes, extortion, drug distribution and alcoholism. Students, teachers, parents and residents of Taman Seri Rawang and Taman Garing Jaya were said to be in fear of school bullies and did not report cases for fear of repercussions. Alimuddin said he might visit the school with the press after the school holidays.

“I visited the school last week and I was encouraged that its PTA is engaging other bodies to overcome various challenges. I am optimistic the school will be the preferred choice of parents and students as it was the alma mater of several sporting greats,” he said.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/6/2/nation/6382922&sec=nation

Risau subsidi pendidikan dikurang

02/06/2010

SAYA merujuk laporan akhbar ini semalam bertajuk Kenyataan Saifuddin diperbetul. Saranan yang dibuat oleh Timbalan Menteri Pengajian Tinggi, Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, supaya kerajaan tidak mengurangkan subsidi pendidikan tidak seharusnya dianggap kurang tepat dan mengelirukan.

Malah, kenyataan itu dibuat lantaran kebimbangan rakyat terhadap kemungkinan pemberian subsidi pendidikan bakal terjejas berikutan inisiatif kerajaan untuk menstruktur semula pemberian kadar subsidi negara.

Umum mengetahui bahawa antara cadangan yang dibuat oleh Unit Pencapaian, Pengurusan dan Penyampaian (PEMANDU) sewaktu Hari Terbuka Makmal Subsidi pada 27 Mei lalu antaranya:

* Penstrukturan pinjaman Tabung Perbadanan Pendidikan Tinggi (PTPTN) mengikut pendapatan ibu bapa pelajar;

* Menaikkan yuran pengajian mengikut bidang di IPT, kursus kritikal sebanyak RM800 dan kursus bukan kritikal sebanyak RM300;

* Menarik balik subsidi pendidikan kepada pelajar asing.

Saifuddin juga percaya ramai yang lega dengan jaminan Menteri Pengajian Tinggi, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin kelmarin bahawa tiada pemotongan subsidi pendidikan akan dikenakan terhadap mahasiswa tempatan di institusi pengajian tinggi (IPT).
MOHD NAZRI NOH,
Setiausaha Sulit Kanan,
Timbalan Menteri Pengajian Tinggi

http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/Risausubsidipendidikandikurang/Article