EDUCATION Malaysia

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Bina Puri wins RM20m infra works
03 Jul 2008 12:22 PM
THEEDGEDAILY

KUALA LUMPUR: Bina Puri Holdings Bhd subsidiary Bina Puri Sdn Bhd (BPSB) has secured a RM20.4 million infrastructure contract from the Works Department for Universiti Malaysia Kelantan’s Bachok campus in Kelantan.

In a statement yesterday, Bina Puri said BPSB has a 70% stake in the project while its partner TA-3 Sdn Bhd holds the remaining interest. They expect to complete the works within eight months. Currently UMK operates temporary campuses in Pengkalan Chepa and Kota Bahru.

The company said the award of the project would strengthen its presence in the East Coast, particularly in Kelantan. It said the group managed to increase its order book to RM2 billion last year from RM1.6 billion in 2006.

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MIMOS, UKM ink MoA on sensor tech research
10 Jul 2008 1:05 PM
THEEDGEDAILY

KUALA LUMPUR: MIMOS and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) has inked a memorandum of agreement (MoA) to formalise its sensor technology research collaboration aimed at enhancing the country’s precision agriculture competitiveness and developing grassroot competency.

In a statement yesterday, MIMOS said towards that end, the collaboration would focus on the joint development of chemical sensors for environmental monitoring including the detection of chemical and moisture in water and soil.

MIMOS will work with researchers from UKM’s Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN) and the School of Chemical Sciences & Food Technology to develop sensors aimed at upping the ante on sensor technology to include the development of future sensor technology such as nanosensors.

Precision agriculture is an emerging agronomic management systems approach that has the potential to realise sustainability by increasing profits and optimising crop yields while minimising the adverse environmental impacts.

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Sabah To Receive Half Of The Additional Allocation For Education Ministry
July 12, 2008 19:05 PM

TUARAN, July 12 (Bernama) -- The Education Ministry, which received an additional allocation of RM950 million under the 9th Malaysia Plan (9MP) Mid-Term Review, will channel almost half of the allocation to Sabah to assist rural schools.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said RM400 million would be allocated to provide hybrid solar energy to almost all of the 122 schools in the state that had yet to receive electricity supply.

"Despite the economic slowdown, the allocation for the Education Ministry had been increased by almost RM1 billion, and the move to channel half of this amount to Sabah showed the ministry's commitment to ensure that educational development programmes in Sabah would be continued," he said when officiating the electricity (solar hybrid) supply project for schools in the interior areas of Sabah at the SK Tudan, here Saturday.

The Education Ministry had earlier received a ceiling allocation of RM23.198 billion under the 9MP and of this amount, Sabah received the largest allocation of RM3.43 billion.

Hishammuddin also announced that his ministry had approved the construction of a matriculation college in the state which was projected to cost about RM300 million.

-- BERNAMA

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Ministry To Promote Good Private Varsities Internationally
July 15, 2008 15:47 PM

KAJANG, July 15 (Bernama) -- The Higher Education Ministry will look back at its role as a facilitator for the private institutions of higher learning in realising the objective to internationalise the country's education system.

In this regard, the ministry would identify good private higher educational institutions and promote them internationally so as to draw more foreign students to Malaysia, Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Tuesday.

"Private institutions of higher learning play a role in realising the internationalisation policy in terms of the entry of foreign students to our country.

"On this reason, the ministry will look back as to how it is to become a facilitator for the institutions to play this role including by promoting the suitable ones and drawing foreigners to study in Malaysia."

He said this when visiting Kuala Lumpur Infrastructure University College (KLIUC) here. "The ministry will identify good private institutions of higher learning in the internationalisation drive in terms of the courses and facilities they are offering -- this is very important," he said.

Earlier, Khaled witnessed the signing of a memorandum of agreement under which the Yemen Republic would send its students to further their education at KLIUC.

In his speech, he said that if local private colleges and universities were willing to take on the internationalisation challenges and further expand their international student capacity and clientele, the ministry would provide full support and facilitate such a move.

"I have already instructed the Private Institution of Higher Education Sector within the ministry to pursue this matter and to see how we can further enhance and strengthen the internationalisation programme at our private universities," he said.

-- BERNAMA

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UKM To Include Mercy Malaysia In Co-curriculum
July 17, 2008 21:50 PM

BANGI, July 17 (Bernama) -- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) plans to include the Malaysian Medical Relief Society (Mercy Malaysia) in its co-curriculum for which credit hours will be given.

UKM vice-chancellor Datuk Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin said this would enable students who were interested in humanitarian efforts to have more choices.

"This is a good opportunity for students wishing to join Mercy Malaysia programmes as they instill humanitarian values which transcends cultures," she told reporters after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mercy Malaysia here Thursday.

Mercy Malaysia was represented by its president Datuk Dr Jemilah Mahmood.

Dr Sharifah Hapsah said the Mercy Malaysia programme would also be incorporated in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities' curriculum next year.

"From next year, it will be compulsory for students at the faculty to undergo training with non-government organisations (NGOs) and government agencies," she said.

On the inclusion of UKM students as volunteers in NGO relief operations, she said approval must be sought with vice-chancellor first.

The MoU, among others, spells out the collaboration between UKM staff and students and Mercy Malaysia volunteers in courses and research.

In her speech, Dr Jemilah said Mercy Malaysia needed more volunteers not only from the medical field but also the psychology and education fields.

"I hope the MoU will enable Mercy Malaysia not only to increase its volunteers but also to increase and upgrade the quality of its research," she said.

-- BERNAMA

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Use Knowledge To Value Add Nation's Development, PM Tells Young People
July 19, 2008 19:40 PM

KEPALA BATAS, July 19 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi advised young people, as the backbone of human capital, to use their knowledge to value add the development the nation has achieved over the last 50 years.

The prime minister said students, on the other hand, should acquire knowledge to instil excellence in the nation's progress and success in the future.

"If the country is to achieve rapid progress, the human capital has to be developed with knowledge from diverse fields and a suitable educational aspect," he said at the presentation of study offers and educational sponsorship of the private Island College of Technology for 350 students at the Kepala Batas Dewan Millenium, here.

Abdullah advised all the students to use their educational opportunity as best as possible, saying such an opportunity was scarce.

"The education that you acquire will help create a more competitive and progressive future generation," he said. The prime minister also said that the government was committed and sensitive to the question of making available quality education.

"This is a very meaningful assistance and every member of the younger generation of today must have an education as a preparation to face global challenges," he said.

The Island College of Technology, located in Balik Pulau, Penang, was set up 10 years ago and has produced 2,700 diploma and first-degree holders so far.

-- BERNAMA

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The Living Classrooms attracts strong interest
By Azlan Abu Bakar Published: 2008/07/19
BusinessTimes

The education franchise has received enquiries from Kelantan and also earmarked a number of English teachers in Terengganu to open up centres there

THE Living Classrooms, a new home-grown education franchise, has received more than 10 enquiries from interested parties since launching its prototype centre in 2007.

"We expect to see our first franchise centre to open by the third quarter of 2008," co-founder Alma Ahmad Yeop said, noting that they also plan to expand its franchise network to include other countries in the region.

She said next possible locations for the centre include areas in the East Coast, Shah Alam and Kuala Lumpur.
received at least two enquiries from Kelantan and have also earmarked a number of English teachers in Terengganu to open up centres there
"We as well," she told Business Times in Kelana Jaya, Selangor, recently.

Alma said with initial investment of between RM90,000 and RM120,000, franchisees could expect a return in investment within three years.

"For a cost of RM20,000, franchisees will get six sets of lesson plans for year one to year six. It will include teacher training, franchise training and branding," she said.

The Living Classrooms sees the importance of nurturing the English language among the young generation, but through a more fun and interesting approach.

"Children need to know that English is all around them. It is at home, in the shops, on television and in books of all subjects," said Alma.

Alma and long-time friend Siti Suzannah Ismail took up the challenge of setting up their own English language centre in 2003 before deciding to turn it into a franchise.

"When we first started, people thought The Living Classrooms is owned by a foreign franchise but it is not. We developed the concept and syllabus ourselves, here in Malaysia," she said.

Alma said The Living Classrooms is a place where learning English is coupled with increasing students' knowledge about the world around them.

"Proficiency in the language is not the only determining element in producing excellent students, accuracy must be coupled with good personality and the ability to speak in front of the public," she said, noting that English could be used to teach any subject.

Alma, who is also managing director of the centre, said with guidance and assistance from the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development and Perbadanan Nasional Bhd, they developed their franchise documents in 2005 before obtaining the franchisor status two years later.

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KUIS Aims Full University Status By Next Year
July 20, 2008 18:37 PM

BANGI, July 20 (Bernama) -- Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor (KUIS) is in the process of applying for full university status from the Malaysian Qualifications Agency.

Chairman of KUIS Board of Directors Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim who is Selangor Menteri Besar said the university college aimed to be granted the accreditation next year.

To achieve the objective, he said, KUIS would enhance and upgrade its infrastructure which included accomodation for the students, study facilities, the service centre for international students and teaching experts.

Speaking to reporters after KUIS's 11th Convocation here, Sunday, he said that after the status upgrade, the university college would allocate between 10 and 30 percent of the seats to international students.

KUIS was established in 1995 as a private college and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Selangor Islamic Religious Council.

In has been recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation as an institution that develops Arabic education.

KUIS Rector Datuk Mohd Adanan Isman said the university college would increase the number of teaching staff with doctorate degrees and offer new courses including master's progammes in Islamic banking, Syariah management and comparative religious studies.

"We have approved 30 staff to undergo Phd studies under the Academic Training Scheme provided by KUIS to strengthen the teaching force here," he said in a speech.

A total of 857 graduates received their diplomas and degrees in Arabic, Syariah, Usuluddin, Al-Quran and Sunnah, Dakwah, Tahfiz Al-Quran and Al-Qiraat and Islamic Laws from Khalid at today's ceremony.

Meanwhile commenting on a remark by Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib that a crack had appeared in Parti Keadilan Rakyat after an assemblyman's aide slapped Kelana Jaya Member of Parliament Loh Gwo Burne -- both from the same party -- Khalid said: "This is his hope and his expectation. The truth is it is a sign of maturity in Malaysian politics".

Disagreements and differences of opinions always existed in an alliance and each member should know how to tackle it so that an amicable solution could be achieved, he said.

-- BERNAMA

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RM1 Bln Extra Funds For Rural Students, Says Hishammuddin
July 20, 2008 19:32 PM

KLUANG, July 20 (Bernama) -- The Education Ministry will channel the RM1 billion additional allocation under the Ninth Malaysia Plan Mid-Term Review to rural students, Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said, Sunday.

He said although the funds were not enough to meet the total expenditure needed, at least it could reduce the gap between rural and urban students in accordance with the Education Development Blueprint.

"Actually, the government needs at least RM3 billion to assist rural students. Nevertheless, I am grateful and glad with the RM1 billion allocation though I am concerned the economic situation may worsen in a year or two," he said.

Earlier, Hishammuddin who is Sembrong Member of Parliament launched a programme for Felda folk and an encyclopedia for students published by Utusan Publications & Distributors Sdn Bhd at Felda Ulu Penggeli here.

He said the ministry would have to use other sources including funds slated for projects which could not be completed soon to realise those for development in rural areas.

"Projects facing problems such as with regard to land status or those which can be covered under the 10th Malaysia Plan, we will use their allocations to channel aid to the students. With this, we can save money," he said.

Hishammuddin said the ministry was still committed to extending aid to rural students including providing food, textbooks and tuition vouchers as well as implementing physical development projects because children should not be let to become victims of the escalating fuel prices.

On the Education Development Blueprint, he said the implementation of most programmes under the master plan had achieved 49 percent and in terms of physical development it had surpassed 50 percent.

"Actually, the ministry's decision to undertake development much earlier was timely. If we were to start today the cost was surely high.

"All development projects under the Eighth Malaysia Plan have been completed and we no longer hear problems like school laboratory collapsing or roof leakages," he said.

-- BERNAMA

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Three Sabahans among first medical UMS grads
Monday July 28, 2008

KOTA KINABALU: Three Sabahans are among the inaugural batch of 30 University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) medical graduates who will receive their scrolls soon.

UMS School of Medicine Dean Prof Dr Osman Ali said the graduation of the maiden batch would put to rest doubts on the “quality” of the faculty set up five years ago,

He said the aspiring doctors had even proven themselves in foreign hospitals where some had been assigned for elective posting.

“The selected overseas hospitals had given positive feedback on our students,” Dr Osman said, adding that the medical school was also receiving about 30 to 40 appeals annually from those seeking a place there.

To produce better doctors, he said, the medical students were exposed to communities of different racial, socio-economic and health backgrounds.

Such exposure would allow them to better understand and recognise the problems faced by the rural indigenous and urban communities, he added.

Dr Osman said that for now, the medical faculty students were being sent for their eight-week clinical postings on a rotation basis to the Queen Elizabeth, Likas, Bukit Padang Mesra and Papar hospitals.

The medical students had also spent time in some of Sabah’s remote communities such as Pulau Banggi, Beluran, Nabawan and Long Pasia.

Soon, their exposure will include the northern Kudat district where a RM20mil Rural Medical Education Centre is being constructed.

He said the centre would not only serve as a venue for the medical undergraduates for clinical postings but also as a centre for rural medical research.

The UMS School of Medicine has an enrolment of 335 with an annual intake of 75 students.

Dr Osman said about 20% of the undergraduates were Sabahans.

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Textbook Loan Scheme For Religious Schools Too
July 27, 2008 20:18 PM

JOHOR BAHARU, July 27 (Bernama) -- The Education Ministry will extend its Textbook Loan Scheme (SPBT) to integrated religious schools or state government integrated schools, starting next year.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the aid would be given starting in Johor, Selangor, Perak, Kedah and Terengganu involving a yearly allocation of RM1.9 million.

"For a start, 42 religious schools with 9,435 students in those states would be benefitting from the aid. The policy needs to be extended to prove that the ministry has never neglected the other types of schools, including religious schools, in line with the Education Development Master Plan (PIPP)," he said.

Hishammuddin said this after attending the closing ceremony of the first ever national-level 'kompang selawat and berzanji marhaban' competition among schools, here today.

He said the aid would only involve primary religious schools that were registered under the state government and did not involve private religious schools.

He said the move to extend the text book loan scheme following the suggestion by Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman that the scheme be implemented in Johor state government primary integrated religious schools which used the National Primary Syllabus (KBSR).

"The ministry has evaluated all suggestions and I feel that this policy has to be extended not only to lessen the burden of the parents, but also to ensure that students from low-income families were not left behind in the school system," he said.

-- BERNAMA

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IACT seeking bigger campus
By SHANNEN WONG


INSTITUTE Advertising Communication Training Sdn Bhd (IACT) wants to lease a bigger campus with improved facilities in the next six to 12 months as part of its plans to expand and reposition itself in the niche segment of advertising.

Zencall Holdings chairman Raymond Chew said IACT was too small for a purpose-built campus right now and would require a bigger campus to accommodate the increasing number of students in the near future.


Datuk Vincent Lee (second from left) exchanging documents with Raymond Chew. With them are Lee Kok Leong (left) and Peter Das

He was speaking after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Zencall Holdings Sdn Bhd and Macomm Management Services Sdn Bhd on Saturday.

Chew, who is also the chairman and group chief executive officer of advertising agency Pos Ad Sdn Bhd, has bought an 80% stake in IACT for RM2mil via Zencall Holdings. Of the 80%, 70% was bought from Macomm and the remaining 10% from IACT executive director Lee Kok Leong.

Macomm, in which the Malaysian Advertisers Association (MAA) and the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia (4As) own a 90% stake, now holds 20% in IACT.

Chew said IACT planned to invest about RM2mil in a new campus of 50,000 sq ft. Currently, it has a 21,000-sq-ft campus in Damansara Utama.

With the new leased campus, IACT targets student population to hit 2,000 in the first year of operation from about 300 students currently, he said.

Chew said IACT hoped to build its own purpose-built campus once its student population hit 3,000 to 5,000 in five years.

“We might eventually need a new campus that requires a huge investment of RM10mil to RM15mil,” he said, noting that it would apply for a licence to offer courses on other disciplines.

The advertising college planned to employ the best teaching professionals from overseas to lecture at IACT for three to four years, he said.

On the takeover, 4As president Datuk Vincent Lee said IACT needed a private entity to take over to enjoy faster growth, as a huge investment was needed to sustain the growth of the college.

Meanwhile, MAA president Peter Das said: “IACT needs to recruit more full-time teaching professionals in its faculty to stay competitive in the industry.”

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[size=''5"]Al-Alqeelah to invest RM330m in aviation academy here [/size]
by Racheal Lee Mei Nyee
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com


KUALA LUMPUR: Kuwait-based Al-Aqeelah Group will build the world's largest aviation academy in Malaysia, with an initial investment of US$100 million (RM330 million).

"The size of the land would be dependent on the land the Malaysian government can give us," Al-Aqeelah Leasing, Finance and Investment Company of Kuwait managing director Hamed M Khajah told a press conference here yesterday.

He added that the government had given the company the option of three locations - Senai airport in Johor, Batu Berendam in Melaka and Kuantan.

"Senai airport is our first choice with the availability of facilities and infrastructure. We will finalise the location within the next few weeks," Hamed said, adding that the construction of the academy would start nine months after the location had been decided.

The academy will provide courses in pilot training, airport management and airline technology. It is expected to train 400 pilots during its first year of operation.

The project will be implemented via a joint venture. Al-Aqeelah is currently in discussions with several local strategic partners. The partnership would be concluded in two months' time.

Hamed said the academy had received response from some airline players, which may outsource the education and training of pilots to the academy. He expects the academy to cater to the growing demand for pilots.

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Grandpa the oldest student
By CHRISTINA CHIN


AMONG a crowd of young, excited teenagers, pensioner Abdul Hamid Yunus eagerly waited in line to register for his degree programme at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) School of Humanities recently.

At 71, the former army officer was among a batch of students enrolling for their first semester of the university’s Bachelor of Arts programme.

“I am very proud to be the school’s oldest fulltime student. I will try my best to follow the lectures,” he said.

Abdul Hamid said he loved examinations.


Eager beaver: Abdul Hamid registering for the degree programme.

“As soon as I get the questions, I will start writing non-stop,” he added.

He said he had a passion for life-long learning and never got bored of studying.

Abdul Hamid said he never had the opportunity to advance his education earlier as his family was not well off.

“Now that I can, I am adamant to continue studying right up to the post-graduate level, God willing,” he said.

Abdul Hamid, who lives with his wife and son’s family in Kuala Lumpur, said he would be moving to Penang alone.

“My wife, Fatimah, wants to be with our grandchildren. She and my grandchildren initially did not understand why I wanted to continue studying at this age but they are supportive,” he laughed.

The Syariah diploma holder from Universiti Malaya said he also studied at religious schools in Indonesia and Kelantan before enrolling at the university.

“In Islam, Allah encourages us to always seek knowledge,” the grandfather of five said.

Asked how she felt, his 61-year-old wife said it was “good” that he wanted to improve himself.

In his welcoming speech, school dean Prof Datuk Abu Talib Ahmad said he was very pleased that the senior citizen had chosen to continue his studies at USM.

“We currently have four senior citizens enrolled in our programmes,” he said, adding that a 72-year-old student received his PHD degree from the school recently.

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British U to start campus in Johor
KUALA TERENGGANU: The prestigious Newcastle University in Britain plans to open a medical campus in Johor by 2011.

British High Commissioner Boyd McCleary said the campus would be the first international branch campus for Newcastle University while 18 other universities in Britain were interested to have links in Malaysia.

“The medical campus offers several medicine and bio-medical related courses,” he said after calling on Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said at his office in Wisma Darul Iman during his two-day visit to the state.

The Newcastle University Medi-cine Malaysia campus would be located at the Iskandar Region.

On his meeting with Ahmad, Mccleary said it focussed on education and areas of enhancing English proficiency among the locals.

He said the British Council would continue to provide the expertise on the teaching of English in Terengganu schools.

McCleary will also visit the British Petroleum (BP) plant in Kemaman where the company was planning to expand its operation.

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Kolej perubatan baru di Gapam siap 2010

Oleh LUKMAN ISMAIL

MELAKA 16 Julai - Sebuah kolej perubatan swasta tempatan, Kolej Universiti Sains Perubatan Cyberjaya akan membuka kampusnya di Gapam dekat sini melibatkan pelaburan bernilai RM50 juta.

Ketua Menteri, Datuk Seri Mohd. Ali Rustam berkata, projek pembinaan kampus yang mampu memuatkan 2,000 pelajar itu dijangka dapat dimulakan tahun ini dan siap pada tahun 2010.

Menurut beliau, kampus universiti itu adalah pelaburan terbaru yang diterima negeri Melaka di kawasan Bandar Kesihatan dan Pendidikan, di bawah projek pembangunan Hang Tuah Jaya.

''Sebelum ini kita sudah menerima persetujuan beberapa kolej untuk membuka kampus mereka iaitu sebuah kolej kejururawatan yang melibatkan kos RM10.90 juta, pusat latihan Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri dan juga sebuah hospital perubatan antarabangsa," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas majlis menandatangani perjanjian jual beli tanah untuk pembinaan kampus Kolej Universiti Sains Perubatan Cyberjaya antara pemilik kolej berkenaan, In-Fusion Solutions Sdn. Bhd. dan Yayasan Melaka selaku pemilik tanah.

Majlis yang berlangsung di pejabat Ketua Menteri, Seri Negeri di sini turut dihadiri oleh Pengarah Urusan In-Fusion Solutions, Dr. Mohamad Salmi Mohd. Sohod.

Mohd. Ali berkata, pelaburan tersebut tidak termasuk cadangan pembinaan sebuah hospital swasta di Klebang.

Sementara itu, Mohamad Salmi berkata, pembinaan kampus barunya itu bertujuan membolehkan kolej tersebut menawarkan program-program peringkat ijazah pada masa depan.

Kata beliau, di Melaka, pihaknya akan menempatkan Fakulti Kesihatan Bersekutu dan untuk permulaan kursus tersebut akan ditawarkan dengan kerjasama Kolej Sains dan Teknologi Antarabangsa Melaka (MiCost).

''Apabila kampus kami di Gapam itu siap kelak, semua pelajar berkenaan akan ditempatkan di sana dan kami akan menyediakan kursus sehingga ke peringkat ijazah," katanya.

Katanya, pada masa kini kolej beliau di Cyberjaya menawarkan kursus dalam bidang perubatan dan farmasi dengan jumlah pelajar seramai 600 orang.

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Limkokwing To Get Assistance In Teaching Malay Studies
July 29, 2008 14:05 PM
From Rohana Mustaffa

LONDON, 29 JulY (Bernama) -- The Limkokwing University's Centre for Malay Studies here will be assisted in getting expertise for the interactive teaching of the Malay language and Malay arts and culture to its students.

Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal who visited the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology here Monday, gave the assurance that experts in the fields would be seconded to the centre for the purpose.

He said he would also ask the National Arts and Culture Academy (Aswara) to loan their teaching staff to the centre.

Limkokwing University had asked for the ministry's help in getting experts to teach and promote the Malay World to the centre's students who currently number 350.

The university requires several lecturers and experts for the Malay Studies centre, which was simultaneously launched with the Limkokwing University London campus by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Oct 1, 2007.

Mohd Shafie said he was impressed with the seriousness of Limkokwing University in focusing on Malay language, arts and cultural studies to students from different racial and cultural backgrounds.

"Better understanding of a race by learning its language, culture and traditions could reduce friction and conflicts among people of the world," said the minister who is here for the 'Malaysia Week' event which will be launched on July 30.

He also congratulated the ministry's cultural troupe which won several awards at the 12th World Championship of Performing Arts in Los Angeles that began on July 17.

"I have seen their performances before and they are really awesome," he added.

Meanwhile, Datuk Sulaiman Othman, the special assistant to the Limkokwing University president, said the university's Centre for Malay Studies here had also received the support of various agencies in Malaysia, including Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka and Kraftangan Malaysia.

He said the university planned to become a hub for Malay language study and the Malay World's resource centre by creating a Chair which would offer studies in Malay anthropology, history, culture and linguistics.

-- BERNAMA

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HMs want better perks
Sunday July 27, 2008

THE Malaysian Headmasters Council (GMGBM) has asked the Education Ministry to include the post of headmaster in the management group (DG36, DG38 and DG40) and no longer in the support group, in recognition of their role and contributions in education.

Its president, Ruslan Madon, said the council also urged the ministry to increase the allowance of headmasters from RM100 to RM500 and asked for an entertainment allowance of 5% to be entered straight into the emolument payment.

These were among 11 resolutions passed at the close of the four-day 14th Education Convention organised by the council in Kuala Terengganu last week, which was attended by over 7,000 primary school teachers from throughout the country.

Deputy director-general of education Datuk Noor Rezan Bapoo Hashim simultaneously closed the convention and the GMGBM delegates conference last Wednesday.

Ruslan said one of the resolutions asked for the structuring of headmasters’ posts in primary schools to be expedited and the implementation of the DG41, DG44 scheme for graduate headmasters, and DG38, DG40 and DG46 for non-graduate headmasters.

The council also agreed to implement programmes to enhance the capabilities of teachers and students in primary schools. The headmasters also agreed to use the resources and expertise at the school, district and state levels to carry out programmes that would have a big impact on students, especially in developing soft skills and preparing them to compete at the global level.

The headmasters also wanted an allocation be set aside for them to attend seminars, conferences, conventions and workshops at national and international levels in order to enhance their knowledge and skills.

Ruslan said the 11 resolutions would be officially forwarded to Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein soon for consideration.

Meanwhile, Noor Rezan suggested that all schools should explain the National Education Blueprint to students during assembly.

”It is important for students to understand the blueprint to spur them to help the nation meet its objectives and aspirations,” she said.— Bernama