TOWARDS GREATER EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

TOWARDS GREATER EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

TOWARDS GREATER EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

Posted: 30 Dec 2014 08:00 AM PST

31 December 2014| last updated at 12:08AM
By ZAFIRA ANWAR | news@nst.com.my

He said the blueprint, which will be implemented in three different waves, is aimed at producing human capital to fulfil the nation's future agenda that underlines the importance of a world-class and quality education in achieving the nation's goals.

"The first wave (2013-2015) will rationalise 25 out of the 100 initiatives introduced by the government focusing on revamping the current education system and teacher quality on three key aspects; numeracy, literacy and language," he said, adding that the blueprint would transform the entire education system to meet the requirements of an increasingly competitive global environment.

The teaching profession will be enhanced to create outstanding pupils and students to drive the country's development.

The gap between students in urban and rural areas will be bridged, with other areas of focus being the socio economic level and meeting a 50 per cent gender achievement by 2020.

He said the Ministry will raise teacher quality while improving the existing pool of teachers in terms of school leadership, recruitment and training of principals, and also improving student literacy in Bahasa Malaysia, English and other languages.

The blueprint also focuses on enhancing the status of Bahasa Malaysia while giving serious attention to the English language which will be made a must pass subject for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination by 2016.

"'Strong implementation rapid execution', that is my approach in realising the education blueprint," he said at a press conference at his office yesterday.

"Strong implementation would consist close monitoring starting from the management of the education system right up to the classroom environment," he said adding that as the Director-General, he would go to different schools to closely analyse and look at issues faced by teachers and students first hand.

"The Ministry has developed a set of KPIs anchored on the system goals of access, quality, equity, unity, and efficiency. These KPIs have been cascaded downwards from the Ministry to schools, ensuring consistency and coherency of targets throughout the system.

"The implementation of initiatives towards achieving these KPIs will be monitored by the Inspectorate of Schools."

He said teachers must understand and embrace the blueprint in order to fully implement the plan.

"This is called rapid execution -- we must know where we stand and how far are we from reaching our goal in order to realise each plan or initiative successfully," he said, adding that under the 2014 Budget RM54.6 billion, which is almost 21 per cent of the Budget, was allocated for education purposes.

"The Budget shows commitment by the government in providing the education system with better opportunities for improvement."

The Ministry also carries out special programmes for students identified as gifted, as well as runs the School in Hospitals programme to ensure students who are hospitalised get the opportunity to learn. There are Integrity Schools for juvenile delinquents and Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih in Kuala Lumpur for underprivileged children.

"For poor students, Kumpulan Wang Amanah Pelajar Miskin was established with those excelling in exams given priority for entry into fully residential schools.

"With this there is no question of students being left behind because every opportunity is given to them," he said.

 

Good night Malaysian 370

Posted: 26 Aug 2014 08:17 PM PDT

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Jailed parents out soon

Posted: 05 Jul 2014 09:00 AM PDT

06 July 2014| last updated at 12:16AM

The children were told by Ketereh member of parliament Tan Sri Annuar Musa, who had visited Shalwati recently, that Azizul Raheem would be released next month, while Shalwati would be released in September.

The couple's eldest child, Aishah, 15, said she and her three siblings were elated by the news.

"I am very happy to hear the news that mummy and daddy will be released soon.

"We are surprised, as we thought that they would be in prison for a longer time.

"We will wait patiently for their return."

Azizul Raheem, 38, who is Tourism Malaysia director in Sweden, was sentenced to 10 months in prison, while Shalwati, 46, was handed a 14-month sentence for gross violation of the integrity of their children.

The couple have been in the custody of Swedish authorities since December last year.

The children, Aishah, Ammar, 12, Adam, 11, and Arif, 8, have been living with their aunt here since returning from Sweden early this year.

Aishah said Ramadan this year would be extra meaningful, as it would be the first time the siblings would fast in their home country.

She said they were glad that their father would be here with them.

She said Arif was excited by the news of their father's impending return, as he was closest to him.

"We miss mummy and daddy very much.

"It has been more than six months since we last saw them."

Street crime in KL down 25pc till May

Posted: 05 Jul 2014 09:00 AM PDT

06 July 2014| last updated at 12:15AM

Dang Wangi police chief Assistant Commissioner Zainuddin Ahmad said a 25.9 per cent reduction in serious crime was recorded in the district in the same period.

"This is proof of our commitment and continuous effort to fight crime, especially street crime, in the district," he said, attributing the success to Op Cantas Khas.

He said regular checks and police presence at several hot spots, such as Bukit Bintang, Jalan Silang, Central Market and Kota Raya, were among the initiatives that had led to the development.

Zainuddin added that random checks on suspicious-looking individuals at hot spots in the Golden Triangle had led to the arrest of 92 suspects.

Cabinet reshuffle announcement today?

Posted: 12 Jun 2014 09:00 AM PDT

13 June 2014| last updated at 11:22PM

Talk about the reshuffling of ministries and swapping of portfolios began when MCA publicly expressed its desire to represent the Chinese community in federal cabinet.

"This cabinet reshuffle is vital for the component parties to rejoin the cabinet to help the prime minister implement his transformation plans," said MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai to Bernama at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

It was a desire endorsed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, following a more than year-long hiatus of Chinese community representatives from the cabinet.

Furthermore, Najib, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, promised that Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Keong would become a minister if he emerged victorious in the Teluk Intan by-election. Thus, the upset against DAP in the by-election ensures that at the very least, a mini reshuffle of the cabinet was needed.

The focus now is on the inclusion of Chinese leaders in the cabinet.

Other than Mah, the other two Chinese leaders most likely to make the cut as full ministers are Liow and his MCA deputy Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong.

Universiti Sains Malaysia's Associate Professor Sivamurugan Pandian said he expected the next cabinet reshuffle to change the current "deficit line-up" to better represent communities in the country.

"It is going back to the power sharing formula practised by BN component parties. Gerakan will be represented by Mah, who is the party president, while MCA will likely be represented Liow and Wee."

Sivamurugan said Liow, Wee and Mah could then use their ministerial positions to better strategise their approach against waning support from the Chinese community for the ruling coalition.

"New positions in the cabinet for Gerakan and MCA would also mean a new platform for the two parties to rebuild their voting base.

"They need to focus on the needs and demands of the Chinese community while assessing the reason behind the loss of support."

MCA grassroots members had proposed a "3+5" formula, meaning the appointment of three ministers and five deputies.

"But he (Najib) does not want the change to be merely lip-service. The proposed MCA formula may not be fully met. The prime minister wants the new line-up to be of substantial leaders equipped with capabilities to realise the projected outcome of nation building policies," says Sivamurugan.

Independent analyst professor Hoo Ke Ping speculated that expectations to return the health ministry portfolio to Liow remained, with the same fate for Wee, who might be appointed transport minister.

"Mah is likely to be a minister in the prime minister's department in charge of unity and performance management."