BN reps urged to support ‘adopt-aschool’ initiative
KUCHING: Barisan Nasional ( BN) elected representatives can use their minor rural project (MRP) grants to support the ‘adopta-school’ initiative mooted by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research.
Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said they should be able to do so even without details provided by the ministry.
“It is okay that the ministry ( of Education, Science and Technological Research) has not provided details. Even without details, YBs ( elected representatives) should be able to engage efforts to support the initiative.
“It is important that all YBs support the initiative to improve the level of proficiency of the English language among our students,” she said on Sunday when prompted for comments on the response from all elected representatives to adopt a school in their respective constituencies to improve the proficiency of English among school children.
The initiative is said to serve as a pilot programme to encourage teachers and students to communicate in English outside the classroom.
Noting that non- BN elected representatives are not given the MRP grants, Fatimah, who is Dalat assemblywoman, said some mechanism could be worked out to reach out to opposition constituencies.
She said some BN elected representatives had already rendered educational assistance to their neighbouring areas which are non-BN.
It is okay that the ministry (of Education, Science and Technological Research) has not provided details. Even without details, YBs (elected representatives) should be able to engage efforts to support the initiative. It is important that all YBs support the initiative to improve the level of proficiency of the English language among our students. Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development
“For instance, ( Nangka assemblyman and Assistant Education and Technological Research Minister) Dr Annuar ( Rapaee) has helped his neighbouring areas like Bukit Assek and Lanang while (Semop assemblyman and Assistant Corporate Affairs Minister Abdullah) Saidol and ( Belawai assemblyman and Assistant Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Minister) Datu Len Talif ( Salleh) have extended educational assistance to Bintangor.
“The move by the Chief Minister to establish our own education ministry is indeed timely even though devolution of power on education is still pending.
“In the interim period, we must add value to existing educational programmes outlined by the Ministry of Education. All this while, as YBs, we carry out our own initiatives in our own constituencies,” she pointed out.
Fatimah said all the educational assistance was meant to enhance not just proficiency of English but the overall performance of schools.
She disclosed that the Dalat District Education Office ( PPD) was ranked top among all the 31 PPDs in the state and 30th among the 139 PPDs in the country.
“PPD Dalat is one of the best. It is very important that PPD as well as teachers, parents and YBs share a common value when it comes to seeking improvement for our children’s performance.
“In a case like this, top- down approach is not very successful. We need people at the bottom level to work together and I’m glad that those on the ground in my constituency are all committed to improving the proficiency of English and overall performance,” she enthused.
She added that parents had been giving a lot of effort to improve the proficiency of English.
Among them were programmes focusing on oral and written English for students from Primary One to Three, enhancing comprehension and vocabulary, putting up information in English in the classroom, organising English Week and community programmes in English.
“Students’ performance means their future. To help them further, we also provide one- off initial educational assistance when they further their studies outside their village or division or state. Incentives are also given to schools who do well in their public examinations,” added Fatimah.