Caring School 2.0 launched

THE Caring School programme, which was shelved in 2018, was relaunched on Feb 22 under the name Caring School Programme 2.0.

The programme will involve concepts and activities based on the five areas of the Caring School plan - environment, culture, service, management and teaching.

At the virtual launch ceremony, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon (pic )saidhe hopes the programme can be promoted in all Malaysian primary schools, and help accelerate the implementation of the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025.

Dr Mah said that the programme which emphasises loving and caring education, is especially needed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It should be adopted in a child’s home-based learning and life, he added.

He also encouraged online educators to promote the caring education concept in the new normal, and strive to improve themselves for their own benefit and for their family, society and the country.

The programme, originally mooted by former deputy education minister Datuk Hon Choon Kim in 2005, was initially meant to reduce the dropout rate at Chinese schools.

In 2013 and in line with the Malaysia Education Development Blueprint 2013-2025, the goal of the programme shifted towards promoting a holistic education to form well-rounded individuals.

A total of 137 Chinese primary schools nationwide have applied to participate in the Caring School Programme 2.0 with the support of their board of governors and parent-teacher association.

A total of 3,990 teachers and 58,713 students have participated in the programme so far.

The programme’s advisors – Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman president Prof Dr Ewe Hong Tat, the principal of Xingzhi Educational Group in Nanjing, China, Yang Rui Qing and Tao Xingzhi Research Group community branch leader Yang Chang Hong – also joined the virtual launch to support the participants.