logo
Sagah: Inaugural Dual Language Programme Sarawak Assessment Test for Primary 6 students set for Oct 15-16

Sagah: Inaugural Dual Language Programme Sarawak Assessment Test for Primary 6 students set for Oct 15-16

Borneo Post26-05-2025
Sagah explained that the assessment covered three core subjects central to the DLP Sarawak curriculum namely Science, Mathematics, and English. – File photo
KUCHING (May 26): The inaugural Dual Language Programme Sarawak Assessment Test (UP-DLP) for Primary 6 students in schools implementing this programme will be held on Oct 15 and 16, said Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn.
The Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister said this initiative underscored the state government's commitment to ensuring that the standard of education in Sarawak continues to meet recognised global standards.
'UP-DLP Sarawak is a standardised assessment for Primary 6 and Form 3 students taking part in DLP Sarawak.
'This initiative is a collaborative effort by my ministry, the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE), the Sarawak State Education Department (JPNS), Swinburne Innovation Malaysia (SWIM), and our state-owned universities,' he said when winding up his ministerial speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting today.
He explained that the assessment covered three core subjects central to the DLP Sarawak curriculum namely Science, Mathematics, and English.
'The examination papers for these subjects are developed by our local expert teachers, ensuring they are tailored to the programme's specific needs and context.
'Crucially, all examination papers will also be thoroughly vetted and verified by Cambridge University Press and Assessment (CUP&A). This rigorous process guarantees that the assessments meet international standards,' he said.
He added that to formalise this partnership, SWIM signed a Contract Service Agreement with CUP&A on April 30 in Cambridge, United Kingdom, which was witnessed by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
On the Sarawak Enhancement Education Programme (SEEP), Sagah said the Sarawak government has allocated RM20 million to support this programme which aims to significantly improve student performance, particularly in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.
'A core element of this initiative is the provision of free tuition to students, specifically targeting those who have not passed their school-based examinations, with the goal of boosting their academic achievement.
'SEEP focuses on Form 3 students, offering tuition in core subjects such as English, Mathematics, Science, and History. For upper secondary students, the programme extends to include tuition for all pure science subjects.
'The overarching objective is to enhance students' readiness for STEM-related courses at tertiary level and to prepare them for future careers within STEM fields,' he explained.
In addition to free tuition, he said SEEP also encompassed a range of supplementary activities which include the development of comprehensive learning modules for both teachers and students, the creation of a dedicated SEEP Management System, and the organisation of various webinars and workshops, as well as facilitates crucial engagement sessions with teachers and parents.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

South Korea pulls plug on AI textbooks, leaving schools, companies without funding for them
South Korea pulls plug on AI textbooks, leaving schools, companies without funding for them

The Star

time21 hours ago

  • The Star

South Korea pulls plug on AI textbooks, leaving schools, companies without funding for them

AI-powered textbooks are now not official South Korean textbooks, removing the legal and financial grounds for using them in schools. -- ST PHOTO: CHANG MAY CHOON SEOUL (The Korea Herald/ANN): South Korea's National Assembly passed a Bill on Monday (Aug 4) stripping artificial intelligence-powered digital textbooks of their legal status as official teaching materials, dealing a heavy blow to the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration's flagship education reform project. The amendment narrows the legal definition of textbooks to printed books and e-books, excluding 'learning support software using intelligent information technology'. This reclassifies AI-powered textbooks as just another type of educational material, not official textbooks. The new classification takes effect immediately upon promulgation, effectively removing the legal and financial foundations for using AI digital textbooks in schools. The amendment, drafted and passed unilaterally by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, is an updated version of the same legislation passed by the Assembly in 2024, which was ultimately scrapped after it was vetoed by then-deputy prime minister Choi Sang-mok, who was the country's acting president at the time. Initially launched as a flagship initiative of the Yoon administration, AI textbooks aimed to provide personalised learning experiences for students using advanced AI algorithms. At least 533.3 billion won (S$496 million) was allocated to the project in 2024 alone. The textbooks were piloted in the first semester of 2025 for English and mathematics classes in Grade 3 and Grade 4 of elementary school, and for English, mathematics, and computer science classes in middle and high schools. Despite the ambitious roll-out, the initiative faced widespread backlash from educators and parents, many of whom criticised the South Korean government for pushing the policy through without sufficient groundwork. In response, the South Korean Ministry of Education shifted to a school-by-school voluntary adoption model, after initially planning a nationwide mandate. Currently, the adoption rate of AI textbooks across schools hovers at around 30 per cent. The Bill's passage now leaves these schools without financial support for AI textbook subscriptions. A high school computer science teacher told The Korea Herald that although some schools secured subscription budgets for the second semester, future use is uncertain. 'Unless the textbooks retain their legal status, we won't be able to receive the necessary funding. It's now almost impossible to use them in class,' the teacher said. The publishing industry is also facing a looming crisis. Companies that invested heavily in AI textbook development, expecting the government to mandate their use, now say they are on the verge of collapse. Several companies filed an administrative lawsuit against the South Korean Education Ministry in April, citing losses due to low adoption rates and policy flip-flopping. Industry representatives warn that without the legal textbook designation, usage rates could drop further, jeopardising the estimated 800 billion won in total investments made into AI textbooks. Layoffs and restructuring are now expected across the sector. A worker in her 30s from a major textbook publisher said her department may soon disappear. 'Many companies hired researchers and engineers to develop AI textbooks. Now, with education policy changing depending on who holds political power, we risk not only losing our jobs but also degrading the quality of education itself,' she said. Publishers have been staging a last-ditch push to reverse public sentiment and policy. Fourteen publishing companies have taken turns holding solo protests outside the National Assembly, while others have visited the Democratic Party of Korea's headquarters demanding reconsideration of the Bill. The South Korean Education Ministry has yet to present a concrete roadmap for winding down the AI textbook programme. A spokesperson said the ministry would suspend the current textbook review process, prepare guidance for schools to prevent disruption in the autumn semester, and consult with regional education offices to minimise confusion. -- THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Teacher's battle with depression led her to the stars — and a new mission
Teacher's battle with depression led her to the stars — and a new mission

New Straits Times

time2 days ago

  • New Straits Times

Teacher's battle with depression led her to the stars — and a new mission

IN Kampung Sungai Sok, a quiet village nestled deep in Kelantan, the air was still and the skies stretched wide and clear. Far from the glare of city lights, the nights were deep and dark — and the stars hung like tiny diamonds in the sky. In that remote place, where the forest grew thick and ecosystems remained untouched by development, the world felt wild and full of wonder. Every night, a 7-year-old girl would sit in silence, her head tilted back in awe. Above her, constellations shimmered like secrets waiting to be discovered — and she was ready to listen. "You could see starry nights… and when the night gets really dark, you might even spot fireflies!" recalls Nurul Syahirah Nazarudin. It was in those still, starlit moments that her fascination with the cosmos took root. The vast sky stirred big questions — What lies beyond Earth? Are we truly alone? How far does the universe stretch? "I fell in love with stargazing," she says. "It became something my parents and I did almost every night when the sky was clear." That early curiosity never faded. Today, at 29, Syahirah is an astronomical artist — a rare vocation that blends scientific interest with creative expression. Her vivid, intricately detailed paintings of galaxies, nebulae and celestial bodies bring the distant and unseen within reach. She is also the only Malaysian member of the International Association of Astronomical Artists (IAAA), the world's only guild dedicated to space-inspired art. "I'm now the assistant director of STEAM outreach for the IAAA," she adds, referring to a growing movement that integrates the Arts into the traditional STEM fields: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. This interdisciplinary approach emphasises creativity alongside critical thinking, encouraging practical applications and real-world problem-solving. For Syahirah, the inclusion of art is not just academic, it is essential for nurturing well-rounded students. "Art has always been a lifeline for me," she says. "Imagination and creativity are just as essential as data and discovery. They help us make sense of the world and dream beyond it." An amateur astronomer and advocate for dark skies, Syahirah also serves as a Dark Sky Ranger with Dark Sky Malaysia and is part of the International Dark Sky Association (IDA), a global effort to raise awareness about light pollution and its impact on how — and if — we see the stars. She's no astronaut, scientist or astrophysicist. But Syahirah, who teaches English and Mathematics at Sekolah Kebangsaan Infant Jesus Convent Johor Baru, has always felt a quiet pull toward space — a lifelong fascination that continues to draw her back to the canvas, where she paints the cosmos as she first saw it: wide open, full of wonder and waiting to be explored. "I never imagined I'd become a teacher," Syahirah admits. Her parents were both educators — her father taught Physics and Mathematics, and her mother was a pre-school teacher. Although she enjoyed sharing knowledge, teaching never felt like her path. "It just wasn't what I wanted," she confesses. "Well… at first anyway!" Art, on the other hand, came naturally. The eldest of five daughters, Syahirah had a creative streak from the start. "My mother used to say the walls of our home were my canvas — they were covered in my scribbles," she says with a laugh. But at the religious school where she studied, her paintings were often confiscated. "They didn't allow us to draw human figures," she explains. "Looking back, I get it — I broke the rules. But I just wanted to draw anime characters. I loved them." She pauses, then adds with a small sigh: "I suppose it was understandable. Still, it felt like being punished for something I was passionate about." For someone who felt things deeply, it was hard not to take it personally. Growing up in a small town where English was barely spoken, life often felt limited. "No one spoke English. I barely did too. I actually learnt it by watching cartoons!" she says with a grin. But above her, the night sky hinted at something more. On clear nights, she'd sit on the steps of her home, eyes turned upward, tracing constellations in the darkness — a quiet wonder blooming with every star she could name. Syahirah was never like the other children. She carried moments longer, held emotions closer. "I felt things a lot deeper," she says softly. Childhood memories that others brushed off stayed with her. When she saw her cat get run over, the trauma stayed with her for months. "I didn't know how to move on from pain. the ache wouldn't go away." During one of her lowest moments, her father quietly entered her room in the middle of the night and gently woke her. He led her outside and there, waiting in the stillness, was a telescope. "My father bought me my first telescope," she says, her voice catching. "I'll never forget that moment." A DIAGNOSIS With all the emotional turmoil she carried, Syahirah's childhood dreams — of becoming a doctor, an astronaut or pursuing a career in science — slowly slipped away. Failing to meet the required results for the science stream felt like the final blow. Adolescence only made things harder. Syahirah faced emotional highs and lows she couldn't explain. Some days, she felt lost, overwhelmed by feelings too big for her age. "I didn't know what was going on," she says. "Back then, we didn't talk about mental health." Teachers were perceptive enough to notice when she wasn't fully present in class — and gave her the space she needed. "Still, I never skipped school. I truly believed in education and how important it was, even when I didn't feel like myself," she shares. "I didn't know it was depression back then, but I knew something was wrong." What anchored her during those difficult days was the night sky. Stargazing became her quiet refuge — a way to feel small and safe in a vast universe. "Looking at the stars brought me peace," she says. "It reminded me that there was more out there and that maybe things would get better." It was her mother's dream for her to become a teacher — just like both her parents. So Syahirah enrolled at the Institute Pendidikan Guru (IPG) in Batu Pahat, Johor. "I didn't mind following what my mother wanted," she says. "I've always loved learning and education. So why not?" But stepping out of her kampung came with its own set of challenges. "We didn't speak English where I grew up," she shares matter-of-factly. "So learning the language took a lot of effort." But perhaps one of the most significant steps Syahirah took was getting herself diagnosed. Why take that step? I ask. She shrugs slightly and answers with quiet honesty: "I just wanted to understand myself better. I used to wonder why things affected me so deeply… why I saw the world through such a sad lens. I needed to know why I felt that way." The diagnosis was Major Depressive Disorder. For the first time, Syahirah felt relief. There was finally a name for what she had been carrying all these years. It wasn't just in her head. It was real — and more importantly, it was something that could be managed with the right help. Major Depressive Disorder is a serious mental health condition that goes beyond feeling sad. It can cloud every part of your life — your thoughts, emotions, energy and even how you see the world. For Syahirah, it explained why she often felt overwhelmed by everyday experiences, why moments that seemed small to others felt unbearably heavy to her. "With the diagnosis, I could finally understand why I felt that way," she says. "And that meant I could start figuring out how to deal with it." ART THERAPY After graduating, Syahirah was posted to Sekolah Kebangsaan Infant Jesus Convent in Johor Baru — a place she still calls her professional home today. Through it all, she never stopped painting. Art became her therapy, her personal refuge. When words failed or emotions became too heavy, the canvas was where she poured it all out. "I started with landscapes," she says. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that Syahirah found herself at a crossroads — creatively and emotionally. In the quiet of lockdown, with time to reflect and reconnect with old passions, something unexpected happened. "It was like a Eureka moment," she recalls. "Something just clicked." The stars she used to gaze at as a child, the night skies that once filled her with wonder... they returned to her, this time through her paintbrush. Slowly, she began blending her lifelong love for astronomy with her art. Space, galaxies, constellations — what once felt distant now became deeply personal. "It just made sense," she says. "I was painting what I had always loved. The night sky became my canvas." She painted and painted, allowing herself to dream the same dreams she once had as a child. Over time, that sense of wonder began to spill into every part of her life. "How was I going to share what I knew? How could I show people the wonders of what's out there — the universe?" she muses. "I'm not a scientist. I don't work in a space agency. But I have art. And through that, I found my way of telling the story of the stars." Whether she was teaching astronomy to her students, speaking about the stars, or advocating for the preservation of dark skies, it all became part of the same passion — an enduring love for the cosmos and the stories it holds. Syahirah knows astronomical art is a niche, often overshadowed by the science of space. "You hear about astronauts and engineers, but rarely space artists," she says. "Yet for centuries, artists helped people visualise the cosmos. Art makes space accessible, sparks curiosity, and gives form to what science can't yet explain." Leaning forward, eyes sparkling, she tells me that while Galileo Galilei is primarily known for his groundbreaking work in astronomy and physics, he also had a strong artistic background. He applied his understanding of light, perspective and observation — skills honed through art — to his scientific work. "How did the scientists back then observe and record what they saw through their telescopes?" she asks. "They sketched. They painted. They used art to communicate what they discovered." For Syahirah, this fusion of disciplines is not new, but a return to how science and art once walked hand in hand. "Not many people remember the fourth man on the Moon," she shares. "Alan Bean. He wasn't just an astronaut. He became an artist after returning from space. He used crushed moon dust in his paintings to capture what he saw and felt. That really spoke to me. It showed that even someone who had walked on the Moon chose art to express something science alone couldn't explain." For Syahirah, it was a powerful reminder that imagination and emotion have a place in the cosmos too — and she has made it her life's mission to prove just that. From exhibitions to workshops and public talks, Syahirah has found creative ways to share her passion. She has even spoken to physics students at Universiti Malaya about bridging the gap between science and art through astronomy. A dedicated self-learner, she constantly reads and deepens her knowledge, using it as a teaching tool in the classroom. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. For her innovative approach to teaching astronomy, Syahirah received two innovation awards from the Johor Education Department. Beyond the classroom, she and her peers regularly organise live astronomical observation events across Malaysia and work to establish 'dark sky' areas — safe, light pollution-free zones where people can experience the wonder of the night sky in its full glory. For a young girl who once grappled with depression and still navigates the ebb and flow of her emotions, Syahirah has found something that grounds her — and brings her joy. "To any young girl who's struggled with mental health," she advises, adding: "follow your heart. Pursue your passion. It can be the light that carries you through the dark." For that 7-year-old girl who once sat beneath the stars in Kampung Sungai Sok, the universe called — and she listened. In the years that followed, even through the shadows of depression, she never stopped looking up. Now, with brush in hand and galaxies in mind, she reminds others that it's often in our darkest moments that we begin to see the stars.

Shanghai Healthcare M&A Fund Strategically Acquires Chengdu Kanghua Biological, Establishing a Fully Integrated Ecosystem
Shanghai Healthcare M&A Fund Strategically Acquires Chengdu Kanghua Biological, Establishing a Fully Integrated Ecosystem

Malay Mail

time21-07-2025

  • Malay Mail

Shanghai Healthcare M&A Fund Strategically Acquires Chengdu Kanghua Biological, Establishing a Fully Integrated Ecosystem

Shanghai Healthcare M&A Fund Strategically Acquires Chengdu Kanghua Biological HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 21 July 2025 - Chengdu Kanghua Biological Products Co., Ltd. (Stock Code: announced that Shanghai Healthcare M&A Fund ("the M&A Fund") intends to acquire the Company through a strategic agreement. Leveraging its substantial resource and financial strength, the M&A Fund plans to support Kanghua Biological's established product portfolio, accelerate sales of its mature products, and develop industry synergies between Shanghai and Chengdu. The goal is to rapidly expand a diversified vaccine pipeline and build an integrated vaccine ecosystem that combines proven commercialized products with best-in-class R&D vaccine industry is an essential pillar of public health with high entry barriers, stringent oversight, and extended development cycles – all factors contributing to its significant growth potential. As a leading domestic vaccine producer, Kanghua Biological's flagship product - human diploid cell rabies vaccine – stands as China's first domestically developed premium vaccine with over a decade of safe application, established market presence and nationwide distribution. The Company also maintains a robust global innovation pipeline, having successfully licensed its recombinant hexavalent norovirus vaccine overseas. This strategic acquisition, focused on critical segments of the vaccine value chain, will strengthen its strategic positioning. The M&A Fund is committed to supporting Kanghua Biological in leveraging its core product line while harnessing the combined strengthens of Shanghai and Chengdu to accelerate the formation of a next-generation vaccine industry acquisition marks a significant step to drive Shanghai and Chengdu biopharmaceutical cooperation. Post-transaction, Kanghua Biological will capitalize on Shanghai's advanced R&D resources and access to top-tier scientific talent and global capital to enhances its industrial capabilities, manufacturing capacity, and market penetration. The M&A Fund will consolidate diverse industrial assets to promote Kanghua Biological's integration with Shanghai's R&D and clinical networks, creating an end-to-end collaborative system that spans from "clinical R&D to commercialization" and accelerates the development of a full industrial value chain."This transaction goes beyond a typical corporate acquisition, it represents a transformative catalyst for industrial upgrading,""This exemplifies the complementary strengths created by resource-empowered consolidation. With deep biopharmaceutical, financial, R&D, and global network expertise, Shanghai Healthcare M&A Fund will create significant synergies with Kanghua Biological's technologies, products, manufacturing, and domestic distribution to have an outsized impact on the sector."Hashtag: #SIICCapital #ChengduKanghuaBiological #ShanghaiHealthcareM&AFund The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Shanghai Healthcare M&A Fund A core component of Shanghai's state-owned capital fund network, Shanghai Healthcare M&A Fund is managed by SIIC Capital, a subsidiary of SIIC Group. The M&A Fund targets Shanghai's biopharmaceutical sector, aligning government policy objectives with industrial needs by fostering collaboration with leading industry companies, strengthening sector clusters, and enabling asset restructuring. Through capital infusion, improving governance, optimizing management, and executing M&A, the M&A Fund backs "anchor" companies to build complementary and reinforcing links in the value chain, driving the ongoing transformation of specialized subsectors. About Chengdu Kanghua Biological Products Co., Ltd. Chengdu Kanghua Biological Products Co., Ltd. is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in research, manufacture and commercialization of biological products. Established in 2004, the company operates an in-house testing center and GMP-certified bacterial and viral vaccine production facilities. Its marketed portfolio includes the ACYW135 meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine and a freeze-dried human diploid cell rabies vaccine. Kanghua holds GMP certification from China's National Medical Products Administration, has participated in numerous scientific research projects and has been granted patents for over 100 technologies.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store