MOE moves to improve education access in Kg Serudung Laut
The Education Ministry has launched a special initiative, ProKhas, in Kampung Serudung Laut in Kalabakan, to provide children in this remote village with access to education.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the programme is part of efforts to ensure no child is left behind, especially in rural areas like Kampung Serudung Laut, which is about two hours by boat from Tawau.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
13 hours ago
- The Star
High stakes, higher expectations
Hopeful parents accompanied their teenage children to the gates of a busy Beijing test centre, where millions of high school students across China were sitting their first day of the highly competitive university entrance exam. Nationwide, 13.35 million students have registered for the multi-subject 'gaokao' series this year, according to the Education Ministry, down from last year's record-high 13.42 million test takers. Outside the central Beijing secondary school, a proud parent who gave her name as Chen said '12 years of hard work have finally led to this moment' – as she waved a fan in front of her daughter while the student reviewed her notes one last time before the test. 'We know our kids have endured so much hardship,' Chen said, adding that she was not nervous. 'I'm actually quite excited. I think my child is excellent, and I'm sure she will get the best score,' she said. A student holding flowers after the first day of the exam, outside a school in Beijing. — AFP China's gaokao requires students to use all their knowledge acquired to this point, testing them on subjects including Chinese, English, mathematics, science and the humanities. The exam results are critical for gaining admission to university and for determining whether students will attend a prestigious or a more modest institution. While teachers and staff offered students their support, holding up signs of encouragement, some test takers, dressed in school uniforms, appeared panicked, including a girl with tears in her eyes. 'There's no need for us parents to add pressure. 'The children are already under a lot of it,' said a woman named Wang, whose son had just entered the exam hall. Like many mothers, she wore a traditional Chinese qipao in hopes of bringing good luck. 'I hope my son achieves immediate success and gets his name on the (list of high-scoring candidates),' Wang said with a smile. Higher education has expanded rapidly in China in recent decades as an economic boom pushed up living standards – as well as parents' expectations for their children's careers. But the job market for young graduates remains daunting. As of April, 15.8% of people aged 16 to 24 living in urban areas were unemployed, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Due to this pressure, many Chinese students prepare for the gaokao from a young age, often with extra lessons after the regular school day. And every year education authorities are on guard against cheating and disruptions during the exam. All the best: School staff members welcoming students as they arrive for the exam in Beijing. — AFP This week, China's Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang called for a 'safe gaokao', stressing the importance of a rigorous campaign against cheating. Areas around exam centres are closely guarded by police, with road lanes closed to traffic and several cities banning motorists from honking their horns so as not to disrupt the concentration of students. In some schools, facial recognition is even used to prevent fraud. While the university admission rate for gaokao test takers has exceeded 80-90% in recent years, many students disappointed with their results choose to repeat the exam. As there is no age limit for the test, some have become notorious for attempting the exam dozens of times, either after failing it or not getting into their top-choice university. One teacher at the Beijing school where parents saw off their children yesterday estimated that only about 10 of the approximately 600 final-year students there would earn a place at one of the capital's top universities. Jiang, a final-year high school student who provided only his first name, expressed his aspiration to attend a university in Beijing and remained calm shortly before his Chinese exam. 'Even though the pressure is intense, it's actually quite fair,' he said. 'I feel like all the preparations that needed to be made have been made, so there's really no point in being nervous now, right? 'Whatever happens, happens. It's truly not something I can completely control.' — AFP
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- New Straits Times
National Education Council set to be top strategic platform for education coordination
KUALA LUMPUR: The National Education Council will serve as the country's highest strategic platform to coordinate education policies and implementation across ministries, from preschool to tertiary levels, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said. She said the establishment of the council will also enable education-related issues to be resolved comprehensively and holistically. Fadhlina said this in a Facebook post after co-chairing a coordination meeting for the establishment of the council with Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir today. "Today's discussion focused on the proposed terms of reference, direction and integrated operations of the council," she said. She said the bold and radical education reforms envisioned require the comprehensive involvement of all stakeholders. –Bernama
Malaysiakini
4 days ago
- Malaysiakini
Retract sudden 'A-' rule for matriculation entry, MCA leader urges
MCA urged the Education Ministry to reverse its decision to classify the 'A-' grade as being below excellent and reinstate the 10A benchmark for SPM-leavers to enter government matriculation courses. 'The public is not afraid of high standards, but they deserve policies that are clear, consistent, and fair. 'What Malaysians want is...
