Latest news with #andTraining
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Zahid to strengthen bilateral ties during UK visit
LONDON: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi ( pic ) is undertaking a four-day working visit to Britain from June 1 to 4, in a move aimed at further strengthening Malaysia-UK bilateral ties. Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, will be accompanied by senior government officials from the Foreign Ministry, Rural and Regional Development Ministry, and Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry. The visit comes on the heels of recent high-level engagements between Malaysia and the UK, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's official visit in January and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof's visit in April, signalling Malaysia's commitment to enhancing multilateral and bilateral cooperation. High Commissioner of Malaysia to the United Kingdom Datuk Zakri Jaafar said Malaysia, as the Asean Chair for 2025, would use this opportunity to share the progress achieved under the theme 'Inclusivity and Sustainability' and to discuss future regional strategies and programmes. Among the key highlights of the visit is a bilateral meeting scheduled for today with UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed, Zakri told reporters at the Malaysian High Commission. 'The discussion will focus not only on enhancing Malaysia-UK cooperation but also delve into disaster risk management, aligning with Ahmad Zahid's role as Chair of the Central Disaster Management Committee.' On the same day, the Deputy Prime Minister is also slated to deliver a keynote address at the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Forum titled 'Malaysia's TVET Leadership in Asean Building Skills for a Shared Future' at University College London, Zakri said. 'The forum will gather representatives from Asean missions in the UK, students, university officials, academics and researchers. 'Later that evening, Ahmad Zahid will host a special gathering with approximately 120 Malaysian students based in the UK, reinforcing the government's engagement with the Malaysian diaspora,' he said. Zakri added that tomorrow, Ahmad Zahid would chair two roundtable meetings – one with UK-based franchise industry players and another with tourism sector agencies. 'He is also scheduled to officiate the UK launch of Visit Malaysia Year 2026, aimed at promoting Malaysia as a premier travel destination for the UK and broader European markets,' Zakri said. To support this promotional drive, the Deputy Prime Minister would participate in exclusive media interviews with prominent travel publications TTG Media and Wanderlust, he added. 'The visit will conclude with Ahmad Zahid's departure to Geneva on June 4 to continue his overseas engagements,' Zakri added.
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
India's mother tongue teaching spells reading success
Sitting together on the classroom floor in Kalyanpur in northwest India, a dozen children aged five and six are trying to identify Hindi words beginning with the "p" sound. After a spontaneous "papa", the children unanimously agree on "papaya" spelt out at the top of their lungs by the entire class. But for these children, born into an Indigenous tribe in Rajasthan state, learning to read in a language neither they nor their parents speak is a challenge. To break this pattern, authorities launched a programme in two Rajasthan districts to teach students to read in their mother tongue. Months after the experiment began, there is progress. "I used Hindi language with the children, but I could see that they were not responding well," said their teacher, Jashoda Khokariya. "They were scared, and were not able to answer my questions," she added. "Now, it's a miracle there is not a single child who is not able to respond." Indian school enrolment rates are high but performance is much lower. One key problem in the world's most populous country, where 1.4 billion people speak a mosaic of over a hundred languages, is that primary school teaching is often in a language the children do not understand. At the age of eight, only 39 percent of Indian students reach the required reading level. At 15, the situation is even worse. The rate drops to 10 percent. Poverty, early marriage and poor teacher training are all to blame but language plays a part too. "We have a multilingual society; this needs to be accounted for when children come to school," said Saadhna Panday, from the UN children's agency . "Several studies have demonstrated that children learn best in the early years in their mother tongue." But this is rarely the case. In many Indian states, students are taught in English and Hindi, of which families may have little knowledge. Since 2020, the national education ministry has said that primary education in students' mother tongue is a priority. Rajasthan ticked all the boxes to host a pilot project. A survey in nine of its rural districts revealed the magnitude of the task: 250,000 primary school students speaking 31 languages. Three-quarters of them are far from understanding let alone speaking Hindi. The programme faces multiple hurdles one of these being that teachers are not trained to use the children's language for formal teaching in the classroom. "There were many obstacles," said Shweta Fageria, director of Rajasthan's State Council of Educational Research and Training centre. "We first created dictionaries by using the local dialect," she added, before making them trilingual with Hindi and English. At the Kuwadi Nichala Fala School, a spartan concrete building on a dusty hill, 13 first graders aged around five to six leaf through the dictionary every schoolday. It is a far cry from the other side of India's education system the ultramodern technology institutes whose prize pupils are snapped up by Californian tech giants. In the sweltering heat, the top student deciphers a few lines. He is still far from mastering reading in his native Wagdi a language with more than three million speakers, according to the last census. But he is making great progress, like all the students in his class, according to his teacher. "They can now read words," Lakshmi Kumari Patel said. "At this age, it takes time for a child to be confident, to actively participate," she added. "Now they are more expressive... engaging in conversations without hesitation." Parents are now more involved too. Since they speak the language being taught, it's up to them to support their children by having them read and telling them stories. Lalita Parmar, 62, understands the benefits that her grandchildren's education can bring. "They will be able to get a job, then they will earn and eat," she said. "If one gets a job, the whole family will benefit." The state government, UNICEF and a local partner have given themselves two years to succeed and, if necessary, to expand. "Through the programme in Rajasthan, we have seen an improvement in children's attendance at school... teachers are more structured, more planned in using the learning materials available in the classrooms, parents are getting more involved in schools," said Panday from UNICEF. "We expect children to have better learning outcomes." The future of India and its economy depends on it, writes economist Ashoka Mody in his recent book, "India is Broken." "The quality of school education in India remains abysmal," Mody wrote, noting how competitors were progressing. "India's attempt to make progress on the cheap by unconscionably delaying these investments in education, health and cities has taken its toll." pa/pjm/cms/sco
Libya Observer
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Libya Observer
World Press Freedom Day marked in Libya
by Anas Sun, 18/05/2025 - 19:53 The Libya for All Foundation for Development, Culture, and Training has organized a cultural dialogue salon entitled "Journalism and Culture... Together to Create National Awareness" on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, on the evening of Sunday, May 4, 2025. The event brought together a select group of national cultural and media figures. Discussions focused on the complementary relationship between journalism and culture in building collective awareness. Participants emphasized that the media not only conveys events, but also contributes to shaping public opinion and protecting national memory. The salon also addressed the challenges facing cultural media in Libya, calling for the need to rehabilitate culture on media platforms as a fundamental component of national discourse. Variety Tagged:
The Star
18-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Over 100,000 applications for TVET institutions received since April, says Ahmad Zahid
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 106,000 applications have been received from youths nationwide to join Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) courses since the intake process was centralised under the TVET Intake Unit (UPTVET) beginning early last month. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the number was expected to rise to at least 150,000 applications by the end of June, reflecting the effectiveness of the new approach. Ahmad Zahid said not all youths excelled academically, so the TVET pathway should be given due attention as a practical alternative that promised a bright future. "If they manage to reach the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Level 3 (SKM-3), it is already equivalent to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and can secure them a minimum salary of RM2,500. In fact, SKM-4 and SKM-5 are equivalent to diploma-level qualifications," he said during the closing ceremony of the Federal Territory-level 2025 National Youth Day celebration here on Sunday (May 18), which was also attended by Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the National TVET Council chairman said that six universities were ready to offer TVET courses, namely Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Universiti Selangor (Unisel), Universiti Malaysia Perlis, and Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA). Meanwhile, the Rural and Regional Development Minister said that besides youth enrolment in these institutions, the government was also focusing on assisting 1.16 million youths in the e-hailing, p-hailing and creative industries. He said many of them possessed talent but lacked formal qualifications, and if they remained in these sectors without upskilling, their productivity might decline by the age of 40. "For their future, the government is offering reskilling and upskilling programmes in TVET fields so they can enhance their skills and income. A daily allowance will also be provided to ease the financial impact during the training period," he said. In addition, Ahmad Zahid voiced concern over the rate of fatal crashes involving youths, noting that 90% of the 6,000 deaths recorded annually involved this group, which must be urgently addressed. "If this continues, we will lose a productive labour force among the youth. As chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Road Safety, I want the Malaysian Youth Council (MBM) and respective state youth councils (MBNs) to organise special motorcycling courses for young riders, including on safety and maintenance," he said. He also urged the creation of other special programmes for youths not affiliated with any associations, to ensure they were not left out of development efforts. Ahmad Zahid also agreed that several special initiatives be implemented for youths in the Federal Territory, including free e-sports courses at UniKL, TVET programmes in the electric vehicle (EV) automotive field, and green technology-based programmes for urban youth. - Bernama
New Straits Times
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
Sultan Nazrin graces Nusantara Charity Dinner with M Nasir
IPOH: The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, graced the Nusantara Charity Dinner with Datuk M Nasir, organised by Kelab Bakti Gunung Keledang, at the Ipoh Convention Centre here last night. The Sultan was accompanied by the Raja Permaisuri of Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim. The dinner with the music maestro was held to raise funds for the club's planned activities and programmes. Their Majesties' arrival at the event, attended by about 1,400 guests, was welcomed by Kelab Bakti Gunung Keledang president Muhammad Hamzah Md Hamdan and Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad. Also in attendance were State Secretary Datuk Ahmad Suaidi Abdul Rahim, State Financial Officer Datuk Mohd Zaki Mahyudin, and State Legal Adviser Datuk Azmir Shah Zainal Abidin. Following the dinner, guests were entertained by seven songs performed by Datuk M Nasir. He performed hits such as Semerah Padi, Ada, Tanya Sama Itu Hud Hud, Hati Emas, Mustika, Bonda, and concluded with Satu Hari Di Hari Raya. In his speech, Muhammad Hamzah said this year's dinner broke tradition as there was no presidential proclamation, as the club's committee had unanimously extended his tenure as president for the 2024 term to also cover 2025. He said the club would embark on a new direction in 2025, aligning with the state government's efforts, including raising awareness on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) pathways. Muhammad Hamzah also sought Sultan Nazrin's consent for Kelab Bakti Gunung Keledang to play a role in the upcoming celebration marking the 500th anniversary of the Perak Sultanate. "As Perak stands on the cusp of celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Perak Sultanate, the club humbly seeks Your Majesty's gracious consent to be granted a small role in this celebration. "Hopefully, with this small role, we can help enliven the festivities," he said. Muhammad Hamzah added that the club had always received unwavering cooperation from the state government, including contributions from state government-linked companies to ensure the success of the charity dinner. "For this event, several private companies comprising club members generously sponsored key tables, including an international company based in Canada," he said. The event also selected 10 organisations—including orphanages, educational centres, an orphan student fund, an association for persons with disabilities (OKU), and a religious school (maahad tahfiz)—to receive a total contribution of RM150,000. The evening also witnessed the signing of several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between Kelab Bakti Gunung Keledang and several bodies, including the Ipoh City Council, the Community Development Department, and Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah. Sultan Nazrin and Tuanku Zara departed after the event concluded around 11pm.
