Tzu Chi sets up international school in KL
THE phrase “faith in humanity has been restored” is one people often use after witnessing a moving act of kindness that tugs on their heartstrings.
With the rapid increase of social problems in recent years, a good dose of humanity and compassion is perhaps what the young need to help them.
Humanitarian group and NGO Tzu Chi Malaysia is establishing its first international school in Bukit Jalil.
The Tzu Chi International School Kuala Lumpur is scheduled for completion in 2020 and is expected to be ready for its first intake of students by January that year.
Located on a 3.1ha site in the vicinity of Residensi Bukit Jalil, the school is an extension of the group’s Da Ai (Great Love) Kindergarten, set up in Kuala Lumpur in 2007.
It will adopt the internationally recognised Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) curriculum, and will be offering kindergarten, primary, secondary, O-Levels and A-Levels.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk Chong Sin Woon who performed the ground-breaking ceremony at the school last weekend, said quality education paired with humanity and good moral values might just be what youths need to excel in life.
Describing the ceremony as “auspicious”, Chong said he hopes students who attend the school in the future will adopt humanistic values under a loving environment.
“I believe the Tzu Chi International School Kuala Lumpur will inject a fresh wave of vitality into Malaysia’s education system.
“Besides academics, the school will also focus on developing character as well as inculcating good moral and humanistic values in children that will pave the way for them to go places when they grow up,” he said.
Chong also noted that the Tzu Chi International School Kuala Lumpur has met the Education Ministry’s requirements in terms of its facilities and academic curriculum.
Tzu Chi KL and Selangor CEO Echo Chien said local and foreign students aged between four and 19 will be able to enrol once the school is completed.
“They will be attending classes conducted in Mandarin, English and Bahasa Melayu, allowing them to be trilingual,” she said.
Humanistic lessons, she added, will also be conducted as Tzi Chi’s education system emphasises on character building and inculcating youth with the spirit of teamwork, life skills and wisdom.
“We are grateful for the support and contributions from everyone who made it possible for us to establish the first Tzu Chi school in Malaysia under a comprehensive education system to produce talented youths,” said Chien.
She added the teachings in the school will be based on Tzu Chi founder Master Cheng Yan’s philosophy about education.
Master Cheng believes that “Education serves to purify the mind. A good education brings hope and stability to society.”
Taiwan Tzu Chi Education Mission chief executive officer Dr Tsai Ping-Kun highlighted the school will follow Tzu Chi’s motto “respect for lives” and “faith in humanity” to deliver quality education.
“The school aims to produce cultivated, knowledgeable and noble young talents who will grow up to be outstanding citizens of international standard,” says Dr Tsai, who flew in from Taiwan to attend the ceremony.
Almost 5,000 attended the ceremony, including Berjaya Corporation Bhd founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office deputy representative Michael S.Y. Yin and Tzu Chi Melaka and Selangor founder David Lau.
Others present were Top Glove chairman Tan Sri Lim Wee Chai, Nirvana Asia Ltd founder Tan Sri Kong Hon Kong, Mah Sing Group Bhd managing director Tan Sri Leong Hoy Kum, CMY Capital Group chairman Tan Sri Chua Ma Yu, The Store Corp Bhd group managing director Tan Sri Tang Yeam Soon and TARCian Alumni Association executive advisor Tan Sri Barry Goh Ming Choon.