SK Jalan Pasar 1 first school to receive NST 3E sponsorship
KUALA LUMPUR: A school in the heart of the city is about to be given a lesson in empowerment by the New Straits Times (NST).
SK Jalan Pasar 1 in Pudu became the first school to be sponsored under the NST Empowering English in Education (3E) School Sponsorship Programme that aims to boost pupils’ mastery of the language through the newspaper.
NST group editor Rashid Yusof said although the school might be nestled among mega development projects, such as the Tun Razak Exchange, Ikea Cheras and Berjaya Times Square, it had a high concentration of pupils from the Bottom 40 (B40) income group.
“We are sponsoring the school due to this reason, as well as its location. We hope that others will take advantage of this programme to sponsor schools as our newspaper is an excellent educational tool.
“We can’t run away from learning English, given the fact the language is crucial to broadening opportunities in the job market, which also helps us to compete globally,” he said after handing out the sponsorship.
Present was New Straits Times Press Bhd sales, production and distribution general manager Sazali Hashim.
Rashid said the school was also selected due to nostalgic reasons, because some NSTP staff were its alumni.
The school, established in 1936, was previously known as Sekolah Melayu Pasar Road due to its location. It was among the oldest Malay schools in Selangor during the days when Kuala Lumpur was part of Selangor, before it became a federal territory.
Headmaster Kamarul Ariffin Ishak said the newspaper sponsorship would boost pupils’ English proficiency.
“Previously, we used Malay newspapers in classrooms. Pupils would read the news of their liking, then discuss it with teachers.
“This will be the first time we are using an English newspaper, the NST, in class.
“We hope that it will help the pupils with their English as they prepare for Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR).
“As much as we would love to use newspapers on a weekly basis, to make the pupils pay for it will be difficult as some of them come from underprivileged families. Hence, we are thankful for the four-week sponsorship from NST,” he said, adding that the newspaper would be used by pupils from Year Four to Six.
There are 130 pupils and 18 teachers and school assistants at the one-session school.
Year Four pupil Ahmad Musa Ahmad Faris, 10, said the newspaper sponsorship would allow him and his classmates to learn English effectively.
“Not only can we improve our reading and writing skills, we can also learn things that can’t be found in textbooks.”
Year Six pupil G. Denesh, 12, said newspapers had always been one of his study materials, along with textbooks and workbooks.
“My parents buy Berita Harian every Monday for its education pullout, Didik, to help me prepare for UPSR.
“With this sponsorship, I will have extra study materials. This will help me master the language.”
Fasha Nur Mellyssa Faisal, 12, said she and her classmates would be able to learn English the fun way.
For those interested in sponsoring schools for the 3E programme, there are two packages: Package A at RM900 per school for 30 copies every Tuesday for 20 weeks and Package B at RM450 per school for 30 copies every Tuesday for 10 weeks.
For details about the programme, call 1-300-22-6787.