AVINAASH Subramaniam is beaming with pride. He is the only Malaysian to have been accepted into Harvard University this autumn. This is not all — he has also managed to earn a place at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), both among the best universities in the United States (US).
However, the former SMK Damanasara Jaya student who is presently pursuing his A-Level studies at Help University College, is in a tough spot as he still cannot make up his mind on the university he wants to go to.
Avinaash has been awarded a full scholarship at Harvard University, and has until tomorrow to decide if he would prefer to do his undergraduate studies there.
While Harvard looks promising, so is MIT, where his sister Anushree is completing her undergraduate degree in Economics and Mathematics.
Anushree was one of the country’s top students in 2005 when she scored 14 A’s in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations.
Dr Goh (third from left) congratulates Ryan while Avinaash, Michael (second from right), Dr Coffman and Tan look on.
Avinaash who obtained 11A’s in the 2008 SPM, said he is also undecided about the courses he would like to pursue.
“The US system generally does not accept freshmen into any particular degree programme and we only need to declare our major(s) in the second or third year.
“We are encouraged to do a range of subjects and discover our interests before taking the plunge,” said Avinaash who has indicated an interest in Biology including Ecological and Environmental Sciences.
Dr Goh Cheng Teik, who sits on the interview panel that selects students for undergraduate admission into Harvard University, said that students applied directly to the university.
“Harvard will then shortlist the applicants from each country and send us the names of those to be interviewed,” he said at a recent press conference to announce the names of those selected for admission to Harvard University.
This year, there were four shortlisted applicants from Malaysia, but only three were successful. They include Avinaash and two American students Michael George and Ryan Marschang, who are currently studying and residing in Malaysia.
Both Michael and Ryan are students of the International School Kuala Lumpur.
Avinaash (left) getting to know Ryan (middle) and Michael after the announcement.
Michael said he was interested in studying International Relations and has received offers from other top US universities but has not made his decision yet.
“Harvard is definitely at the top of my list. I’m still torn between Harvard, Princeton, Yale and Stanford,” he added.
Ryan, who moved to Kuala Lumpur with his family in 2004, said he has also received offers from the University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University and the University of California, Berkeley.
“I never imagined getting into Harvard when I was applying for entry into colleges, but I have not made up my mind yet,” he said, adding that he might opt for a double major in Developmental Economics and Engineering.
Another interviewer Nathaniel Tan, who is also an education and applications consultant, said applicants should have critical thinking skills, a passion and an interest in world affairs, apart from wanting to make an impact.
Dr Goh encouraged Malaysian students to apply for admission into Harvard University.
He said money would not be an issue should one successfully gain admission into Harvard.
“If parents are unable to pay the full cost, the university will provide financial aid,” he added.
Also present was Malaysian-American Commission on Educational Exchange (Macee) executive director Dr James Coffman, who said there had been a 20% increase in the number of Malaysian students going to the US compared to the previous year.
“There are over 4,000 higher education institutions in the US and our goal at Macee is to see many Malaysians studying there,” he said.
TS
May 04, 2010
Too much, too young
Rising social ills and exposure to sexual imagery are at the forefront of why our students need to be better informed about their bodies. But with demands from all sides, how do we make sex education work?
ON April 13, around 3.30pm, a 14-year-old girl was alone in her classroom in a secondary school in Rawang, Selangor, during recess. But things went horribly wrong when she became a target of her fellow schoolmates.
Not only was she raped while being watched by others in the empty classroom, she also had a 4cm-long pencil inserted into her vagina which resulted in great pain whenever she urinated.
Even more disturbing is the fact that the victim, who is an orphan, was reportedly said to be not aware of the foreign object in her vagina until it was discovered by doctors one week after the rape during the medical examination.
She was also found to be a month pregnant.
Should we be teaching abstinence or safe sex to Malaysian teenagers in schools?
Anger and outrage aside, what else does this case tell you?
It shows that the girl did not seem to know and understand her own body well. Is it due to lack of knowledge or plain naivety?
Whatever it is, no child deserves to be treated like that.
Now, the question is: would this still have happened if sex education or, rather, Pendidikan Kesihatan Reproduktif dan Sosial (PKRS or Reproductive, Social and Health Education) is being taught effectively in schools, as Deputy Education Minister Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said at Dewan Negara recently?
And the closest we have to a definitive answer is: maybe.
Social ills are not necessarily due to the lack of sex education in schools as some individuals may think, as there are many other factors such as the offenders’ social economic status, upbringing and exposure to pornography that could have contributed to the horrendous sex crime committed against the girl.
Assoc Prof Dr Mary Huang
However, it is believed that she would have been more likely to speak up and protect herself from sexual violence had she been taught, for example, about the difference between “good touch” and “bad touch” from young, be it in schools or at the orphanage.
As a mother wrote to The Star recently says: “teaching schoolchildren how to protect themselves from sexual violence is also sex education”.
Raging hormones
Many were caught by surprise when Dr Mohd Puad told Dewan Negara on Tuesday that PKRS had, in fact, been taught in schools since two decades ago.
The announcement came weeks after a contentious debate by various groups calling for sex education to be introduced in schools following several cases of abandoned babies.
Dr Mohd Puad, in his reply to Senator Doris Sophia Brodi on Tuesday, said PKRS had been taught in secondary schools since 1989, and since 1994 in primary schools.
He added that PKRS was covered in Biology, Science, Additional Science, Moral Education and Islamic education, among others. As such, he said, it was not necessary to introduce sex education as a specific subject.
If that is indeed the case, why isn’t the general public aware of it?
So, here comes the burning question — is what we have in PKRS driving home the message?
“Some girls become sexually active from as young as 10 years old and get pregnant at 13. You will be shocked that some boys who fathered the babies are only 15 or 16,” says Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Centre of General Studies senior lecturer Dr Johari Talib.
“We don’t want to admit it (teenage pregnancy) because we are a Muslim country and we have enough religion education. But how effective is the Islamic education or other religion education in schools?” he adds.
The curriculum for sex education has to be age appropriate.
In response to that, he calls for a research to be conducted to gauge the effectiveness of the teaching of PKRS in schools.
As he sees it, sex education may not necessarily need to be taught as a specific subject.
More important, he says, is the delivery method.
“Do teachers have skills to “blend” knowledge about sexuality with moral and religion values? Do teachers have ideas of the right or appropriate methods, teaching aids in teaching sexuality? Does the module cover appropriate knowledge on sexuality such as sexual intercourse, contraceptive, private parts, sexual harassment?” Dr Johari asked.
A check by StarEducation with school teachers reveals that not many of them are aware of the PKRS module, let alone the school children.
A Science teacher in Klang, who has more than 30 years experience, says she has not seen the PKRS module. Neither has she received any circular or instruction from the headmaster to teach the module.
For Form Two student Cecilia Tan* of the Klang Valley, the only time she learned about sexuality in primary school was during the “free time” after the UPSR examinations.
“One day after our UPSR exam, my form teacher suddenly asked if we had any questions related to sexuality, period, and so on.
“She said that would be the only opportunity for us to clear any doubts about sex as she said she would not be answering any sex-related questions after that,” she laments.
Commenting on that, Universiti Putra Malaysia Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Assoc Prof Dr Mary Huang says the Education Ministry must take the necessary steps to ensure that the module is being used in schools.
“We were told at a meeting that the period was usually taken up by more ‘important’ examination subjects. The minister must assure us that he will do something to ensure that schools use the periods for what they were assigned for,” she says.
Safe sex vs abstinence
Abstinence, without a doubt, is what most Malaysian parents and religious groups would encourage the young people to practise.
But just switch on the radio to any station, and you’ll find most – if not all – the hits are rife with innuendoes at best, and downright obscenities at worst. Lyrics such as Nelly Furtado’s Promiscuous could even be considered “mild” by today’s standards.
Promiscuous boy, you already know that I’m all yours. What you waiting for?
Promiscuous girl, you’re teasing me, you know what I want, and I got what you need.
With constant exposure to sexual imagery — be it in pop culture, on television, the Internet or even mobile phone applications — is it realistic to expect teenagers with raging hormones to stay abstinent?
Currently, questions are also being raised about whether the PKRS module reflects the current situation in Malaysian society — that our teenagers are becoming sexually active at a younger age, compared to their peers from decades past.
In view of that, it has been suggested that safe sex be taught in schools — which has raised a few eyebrows.
“For those who call for contraception to be taken off the shelves at 7-Eleven, please think twice about it,” says Dr Huang.
“I would love to teach abstinence to young people, but in reality you can’t have it,” she says in an interview.
As she sees it, it is wrong to deprive the child’s right to information.
“My stance is that young people should be given all the knowledge. Then based on whatever their religious beliefs, they make a choice. When they make a choice, it must be an informed choice.
“If they want to get involved in sex, they must be aware of what they are getting themselves into. They must also be aware that they can say ‘no’.
“That’s a woman’s right. It’s her body that she doesn’t have to bow to the pressure of males,” she says.
PT Foundation Pink Triangle (MSM) programme acting executive director and programme director Raymond Tai says research has shown that where sex education is properly conducted, the young people tend to delay sexual experimentation.
According to studies conducted by Collins et al., 2005, and Kirby et al., 2006, comprehensive sex education successfully delayed sexual intercourse, reduced sexual behaviors and increased condom and contraceptive use among sexually active adolescents.
“Children should be taught all about sex from an early age. Knowledge is neutral and should never be censored.
“How the knowledge is applied depends on the person’s values and upbringing. Hence the role of parents and religion is important in enabling children to apply the knowledge according to their own values,” he says.
Although most people are for the teaching of sex education in schools, there are some individuals who are of the view that teens would become promiscuous if they are taught about safe sex.
Unfortunately, says Dr Huang, the dividing voice is due to a lack of understanding.
“That’s because they don’t understand what sex education is about.
“The people who protest are so afraid that we are going to teach the young people the positions of sex and how to enjoy sex,” she says.
While safe sex is being promoted more aggresively in the media, there are, however, groups which advocate that abstinence is still the best approach when it comes to educating the young people about sexuality.
Just ask Focus on the Family (FOF) Malaysia general manager Benny Kong who strongly believes in No Apologies, a character-based sexuality programme that promotes abstinence from pre-marital sex.
“We don’t go around and preach that sex is bad.
“What we are saying is that the couple should wait until marriage,” he says.
“Abstinence should be given equal emphasis as safe sex as it (abstinence) is the best approach to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections or diseases,” he says.
*Name has been changed.
The Star
ON April 13, around 3.30pm, a 14-year-old girl was alone in her classroom in a secondary school in Rawang, Selangor, during recess. But things went horribly wrong when she became a target of her fellow schoolmates.
Not only was she raped while being watched by others in the empty classroom, she also had a 4cm-long pencil inserted into her vagina which resulted in great pain whenever she urinated.
Even more disturbing is the fact that the victim, who is an orphan, was reportedly said to be not aware of the foreign object in her vagina until it was discovered by doctors one week after the rape during the medical examination.
She was also found to be a month pregnant.
Should we be teaching abstinence or safe sex to Malaysian teenagers in schools?
Anger and outrage aside, what else does this case tell you?
It shows that the girl did not seem to know and understand her own body well. Is it due to lack of knowledge or plain naivety?
Whatever it is, no child deserves to be treated like that.
Now, the question is: would this still have happened if sex education or, rather, Pendidikan Kesihatan Reproduktif dan Sosial (PKRS or Reproductive, Social and Health Education) is being taught effectively in schools, as Deputy Education Minister Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said at Dewan Negara recently?
And the closest we have to a definitive answer is: maybe.
Social ills are not necessarily due to the lack of sex education in schools as some individuals may think, as there are many other factors such as the offenders’ social economic status, upbringing and exposure to pornography that could have contributed to the horrendous sex crime committed against the girl.
Assoc Prof Dr Mary Huang
However, it is believed that she would have been more likely to speak up and protect herself from sexual violence had she been taught, for example, about the difference between “good touch” and “bad touch” from young, be it in schools or at the orphanage.
As a mother wrote to The Star recently says: “teaching schoolchildren how to protect themselves from sexual violence is also sex education”.
Raging hormones
Many were caught by surprise when Dr Mohd Puad told Dewan Negara on Tuesday that PKRS had, in fact, been taught in schools since two decades ago.
The announcement came weeks after a contentious debate by various groups calling for sex education to be introduced in schools following several cases of abandoned babies.
Dr Mohd Puad, in his reply to Senator Doris Sophia Brodi on Tuesday, said PKRS had been taught in secondary schools since 1989, and since 1994 in primary schools.
He added that PKRS was covered in Biology, Science, Additional Science, Moral Education and Islamic education, among others. As such, he said, it was not necessary to introduce sex education as a specific subject.
If that is indeed the case, why isn’t the general public aware of it?
So, here comes the burning question — is what we have in PKRS driving home the message?
“Some girls become sexually active from as young as 10 years old and get pregnant at 13. You will be shocked that some boys who fathered the babies are only 15 or 16,” says Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Centre of General Studies senior lecturer Dr Johari Talib.
“We don’t want to admit it (teenage pregnancy) because we are a Muslim country and we have enough religion education. But how effective is the Islamic education or other religion education in schools?” he adds.
The curriculum for sex education has to be age appropriate.
In response to that, he calls for a research to be conducted to gauge the effectiveness of the teaching of PKRS in schools.
As he sees it, sex education may not necessarily need to be taught as a specific subject.
More important, he says, is the delivery method.
“Do teachers have skills to “blend” knowledge about sexuality with moral and religion values? Do teachers have ideas of the right or appropriate methods, teaching aids in teaching sexuality? Does the module cover appropriate knowledge on sexuality such as sexual intercourse, contraceptive, private parts, sexual harassment?” Dr Johari asked.
A check by StarEducation with school teachers reveals that not many of them are aware of the PKRS module, let alone the school children.
A Science teacher in Klang, who has more than 30 years experience, says she has not seen the PKRS module. Neither has she received any circular or instruction from the headmaster to teach the module.
For Form Two student Cecilia Tan* of the Klang Valley, the only time she learned about sexuality in primary school was during the “free time” after the UPSR examinations.
“One day after our UPSR exam, my form teacher suddenly asked if we had any questions related to sexuality, period, and so on.
“She said that would be the only opportunity for us to clear any doubts about sex as she said she would not be answering any sex-related questions after that,” she laments.
Commenting on that, Universiti Putra Malaysia Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Assoc Prof Dr Mary Huang says the Education Ministry must take the necessary steps to ensure that the module is being used in schools.
“We were told at a meeting that the period was usually taken up by more ‘important’ examination subjects. The minister must assure us that he will do something to ensure that schools use the periods for what they were assigned for,” she says.
Safe sex vs abstinence
Abstinence, without a doubt, is what most Malaysian parents and religious groups would encourage the young people to practise.
But just switch on the radio to any station, and you’ll find most – if not all – the hits are rife with innuendoes at best, and downright obscenities at worst. Lyrics such as Nelly Furtado’s Promiscuous could even be considered “mild” by today’s standards.
Promiscuous boy, you already know that I’m all yours. What you waiting for?
Promiscuous girl, you’re teasing me, you know what I want, and I got what you need.
With constant exposure to sexual imagery — be it in pop culture, on television, the Internet or even mobile phone applications — is it realistic to expect teenagers with raging hormones to stay abstinent?
Currently, questions are also being raised about whether the PKRS module reflects the current situation in Malaysian society — that our teenagers are becoming sexually active at a younger age, compared to their peers from decades past.
In view of that, it has been suggested that safe sex be taught in schools — which has raised a few eyebrows.
“For those who call for contraception to be taken off the shelves at 7-Eleven, please think twice about it,” says Dr Huang.
“I would love to teach abstinence to young people, but in reality you can’t have it,” she says in an interview.
As she sees it, it is wrong to deprive the child’s right to information.
“My stance is that young people should be given all the knowledge. Then based on whatever their religious beliefs, they make a choice. When they make a choice, it must be an informed choice.
“If they want to get involved in sex, they must be aware of what they are getting themselves into. They must also be aware that they can say ‘no’.
“That’s a woman’s right. It’s her body that she doesn’t have to bow to the pressure of males,” she says.
PT Foundation Pink Triangle (MSM) programme acting executive director and programme director Raymond Tai says research has shown that where sex education is properly conducted, the young people tend to delay sexual experimentation.
According to studies conducted by Collins et al., 2005, and Kirby et al., 2006, comprehensive sex education successfully delayed sexual intercourse, reduced sexual behaviors and increased condom and contraceptive use among sexually active adolescents.
“Children should be taught all about sex from an early age. Knowledge is neutral and should never be censored.
“How the knowledge is applied depends on the person’s values and upbringing. Hence the role of parents and religion is important in enabling children to apply the knowledge according to their own values,” he says.
Although most people are for the teaching of sex education in schools, there are some individuals who are of the view that teens would become promiscuous if they are taught about safe sex.
Unfortunately, says Dr Huang, the dividing voice is due to a lack of understanding.
“That’s because they don’t understand what sex education is about.
“The people who protest are so afraid that we are going to teach the young people the positions of sex and how to enjoy sex,” she says.
While safe sex is being promoted more aggresively in the media, there are, however, groups which advocate that abstinence is still the best approach when it comes to educating the young people about sexuality.
Just ask Focus on the Family (FOF) Malaysia general manager Benny Kong who strongly believes in No Apologies, a character-based sexuality programme that promotes abstinence from pre-marital sex.
“We don’t go around and preach that sex is bad.
“What we are saying is that the couple should wait until marriage,” he says.
“Abstinence should be given equal emphasis as safe sex as it (abstinence) is the best approach to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections or diseases,” he says.
*Name has been changed.
The Star
March 30, 2010
Malaysia hilang 350,000 pekerja mahir
Situasi modal insan di Malaysia tidak bertambah baik kerana negara kehilangan tenaga kerja mahir yang diperlukan untuk memacu pertumbuhan di masa depan.
Banyak tenaga kerja mahir Malaysia meninggalkan negara untuk mencari peluang lebih baik di negara lain dan menurut anggaran Kementerian Sumber Manusia pada 2008 - kira-kira 350,000 dewasa Malaysia bekerja di luar negara, lebih separuh daripadanya lulusan institusi pengajian tinggi.
Kehilangan besar-besaran tenaga kerja mahir Malaysia diburukkan lagi dengan hakikat bahawa sistem pendidikan, disebalik modal besar yang diperuntukkan melalui beberapa usaha pembaharuan, tidak mengeluarkan tenaga kerja mahir yang diperlukan secara efektif, kata Majlis Penasihat Ekonomi Negara (NEAC) dalam Laporan Pertama Model Ekonomi Baru bagi Malaysia yang dikeluarkan di Kuala Lumpur hari ini.
Kehilangan besar-besaran tenaga kerja mahir Malaysia diburukkan lagi dengan hakikat bahawa sistem pendidikan, disebalik modal besar yang diperuntukkan melalui beberapa usaha pembaharuan, tidak mengeluarkan tenaga kerja mahir yang diperlukan secara efektif, kata Majlis Penasihat Ekonomi Negara (NEAC) dalam Laporan Pertama Model Ekonomi Baru bagi Malaysia yang dikeluarkan di sini hari ini.
"Kita tid
ak membangunkan tenaga kerja mahir dan apa yang kita ada pula meninggalkan kita," kata NEAC.
Laporan itu menyatakan pemain industri sering mengeluh mengenai ketiadaan tenaga kerja mahir yang sesuai di pasaran, mencadangkan tenaga kerja mahir yang dikeluarkan oleh sistem pendidikan dan yang diperlukan oleh syarikat adalah tidak sepadan.
Penilaian terbaru oleh Bank Dunia mencadangkan syarikat-syarikat kini semakin bimbang, pertamanya mengenai teknologi maklumat (IT), kemahiran dan kemahiran teknikal/profesional pekerja Malaysia diikuti aduan mengenai kurang kreativiti dan tidak fasih bahasa Inggeris.
Menurut laporan Jabatan Perangkaan pada 2007, 80 peratus tenaga kerja Malaysia menerima pendidikan hanya setakat Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).
Data Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi menunjukkan pada 2008, kira-kira suku daripada lulusan universiti tempatan masih menganggur selepas enam bulan menamatkan pengajian.
"Malahan mereka yang mendapat kerja, hampir satu pertiga bekerja dalam bidang kemahiran lebih rendah," menurut laporan itu.
Menurut Kementerian Sumber Manusia, antara 2001 dan 2005, kerajaan membelanjakan RM415 juta untuk melatih kira-kira 40,000 siswazah untuk meningkatkan kemahiran mereka untuk diambil bekerja.
"Pelbagai program untuk menarik tenaga kerja mahir diperkenalkan di masa lalu tetapi hanya sedikit yang dicapai secara konkrit. Hasilnya ialah kekurangan tenaga kerja dinamik yang diperlukan untuk memacu Malaysia dalam aktiviti-aktiviti nilai tambah lebih tinggi," kata NEAC.
Menurut laporan itu, kerjasama lebih baik antara majikan sektor swasta dan universiti akan dapat membantu membetulkan keadaan tiada sepadan antara permintaan industri dan siswazah serta meningkatkan peluang siswazah mendapat kerja.
"Malaysia perlu melaksanakan program mampan dan sistematik untuk memastikan pelajar Malaysia diberi peluang untuk meningkatkan penguasaan bahasa Inggeris yang diperlukan untuk bersaing dalam pasaran global," menurut laporan itu.
Laporan itu menyatakan sistem sedia ada lebih tidak menggalakkan daripada menggalakkan pengekalan tenaga kerja mahir tempatan dan kemasukan tenaga kerja mahir asing.
Bernama
Kekangan termasuk penghijrahan besar-besaran dan dasar-dasar insentif yang tidak menggalakkan pakar asing diambil kerja di samping amalan sekatan oleh persatuan-persatuan profesional yang menghalang pekerja asing daripada bekerja di Malaysia, menurutnya.
Banyak tenaga kerja mahir Malaysia meninggalkan negara untuk mencari peluang lebih baik di negara lain dan menurut anggaran Kementerian Sumber Manusia pada 2008 - kira-kira 350,000 dewasa Malaysia bekerja di luar negara, lebih separuh daripadanya lulusan institusi pengajian tinggi.
Kehilangan besar-besaran tenaga kerja mahir Malaysia diburukkan lagi dengan hakikat bahawa sistem pendidikan, disebalik modal besar yang diperuntukkan melalui beberapa usaha pembaharuan, tidak mengeluarkan tenaga kerja mahir yang diperlukan secara efektif, kata Majlis Penasihat Ekonomi Negara (NEAC) dalam Laporan Pertama Model Ekonomi Baru bagi Malaysia yang dikeluarkan di Kuala Lumpur hari ini.
Kehilangan besar-besaran tenaga kerja mahir Malaysia diburukkan lagi dengan hakikat bahawa sistem pendidikan, disebalik modal besar yang diperuntukkan melalui beberapa usaha pembaharuan, tidak mengeluarkan tenaga kerja mahir yang diperlukan secara efektif, kata Majlis Penasihat Ekonomi Negara (NEAC) dalam Laporan Pertama Model Ekonomi Baru bagi Malaysia yang dikeluarkan di sini hari ini.
"Kita tid
ak membangunkan tenaga kerja mahir dan apa yang kita ada pula meninggalkan kita," kata NEAC.
Laporan itu menyatakan pemain industri sering mengeluh mengenai ketiadaan tenaga kerja mahir yang sesuai di pasaran, mencadangkan tenaga kerja mahir yang dikeluarkan oleh sistem pendidikan dan yang diperlukan oleh syarikat adalah tidak sepadan.
Penilaian terbaru oleh Bank Dunia mencadangkan syarikat-syarikat kini semakin bimbang, pertamanya mengenai teknologi maklumat (IT), kemahiran dan kemahiran teknikal/profesional pekerja Malaysia diikuti aduan mengenai kurang kreativiti dan tidak fasih bahasa Inggeris.
Menurut laporan Jabatan Perangkaan pada 2007, 80 peratus tenaga kerja Malaysia menerima pendidikan hanya setakat Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).
Data Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi menunjukkan pada 2008, kira-kira suku daripada lulusan universiti tempatan masih menganggur selepas enam bulan menamatkan pengajian.
"Malahan mereka yang mendapat kerja, hampir satu pertiga bekerja dalam bidang kemahiran lebih rendah," menurut laporan itu.
Menurut Kementerian Sumber Manusia, antara 2001 dan 2005, kerajaan membelanjakan RM415 juta untuk melatih kira-kira 40,000 siswazah untuk meningkatkan kemahiran mereka untuk diambil bekerja.
"Pelbagai program untuk menarik tenaga kerja mahir diperkenalkan di masa lalu tetapi hanya sedikit yang dicapai secara konkrit. Hasilnya ialah kekurangan tenaga kerja dinamik yang diperlukan untuk memacu Malaysia dalam aktiviti-aktiviti nilai tambah lebih tinggi," kata NEAC.
Menurut laporan itu, kerjasama lebih baik antara majikan sektor swasta dan universiti akan dapat membantu membetulkan keadaan tiada sepadan antara permintaan industri dan siswazah serta meningkatkan peluang siswazah mendapat kerja.
"Malaysia perlu melaksanakan program mampan dan sistematik untuk memastikan pelajar Malaysia diberi peluang untuk meningkatkan penguasaan bahasa Inggeris yang diperlukan untuk bersaing dalam pasaran global," menurut laporan itu.
Laporan itu menyatakan sistem sedia ada lebih tidak menggalakkan daripada menggalakkan pengekalan tenaga kerja mahir tempatan dan kemasukan tenaga kerja mahir asing.
Bernama
Kekangan termasuk penghijrahan besar-besaran dan dasar-dasar insentif yang tidak menggalakkan pakar asing diambil kerja di samping amalan sekatan oleh persatuan-persatuan profesional yang menghalang pekerja asing daripada bekerja di Malaysia, menurutnya.
March 11, 2010
Top scorers’ recipe for success
Strong family support and self-discipline seem to be the recipe for success for most of this year’s SPM top scorers.
Although Ashley Leow’s life has not been a bed of roses, she emerged as one of SMK (P) St George’s top scorers.
The Penang lass has always kept her spirits high despite her family not being able to provide the best for her.
Ecstatic: (From left) Yeoh, Leow and Chan showing off their results to principal Shariffah Afifah in Penang Thursday.
Leow, who scored 9 A+s, said her family was not well-off and there were times when she wished she had what her friends had.
“My mother is a housewife. My father got retrenched last year and is now helping a relative with his business.
“Sometimes I wish I could afford some nice things like what my friends had, but I didn’t let it get me down,” the bubbly 18-year-old said.
She said she did not expect to do so well, especially in Mathematics since it was her weakest subject.
Leow was also active in many co-curricular activities, namely judo, bowling and the Interact Club.
The Sukma 2008 bronze medal winner said her passion for judo helped instil discipline in her and taught her many of life’s lessons.
Fellow 9 A+s scorer Stephanie Chan said that although she, Leow and another top scorer Yeoh Jin Ming were not in the same class, they had discussions whenever they were not clear about something.
Yeoh said she was surprised when she scored 9A+s as she only started revising in the few months leading up to the exam.
“But it’s important to pay attention in class and to concentrate in your lessons,” she added.
Principal Shariffah Afifah Syed Abbas attributed the success of the school, one of the first 20 high performance schools in the country, to the students, teachers and parents.
In Ipoh, news of Hu May Khei being one of the country’s top SPM scorers did not come as a surprise to her principal Che Su Mahamud.
Che Su said Hu, of SMK Convent Taiping, had scored in all public examinations.
Hu is studying in Singapore now.
“She is a pleasant girl who is an all rounder,” Che Su added. In Malacca, Lai Yin Kwin, who attributed his top-scoring success to strong family support and self-discipline, is among the top 10 students in the country.
Lai, who is from Malacca High School and scored 9As, thanked his parents, in particular his mother Ng Gek Choo and two elder sisters who had also previously scored straight As in their SPM.
In Klang, it was an early birthday gift for Siti Aisyah Mohd Ramli as she emerged as one of the top scorers in Selangor.
Siti Aisyah, who is going to celebrate her 17th birthday on March 14, said she believed the key to her achievement was from sharing knowledge and helping others in their studies.
TS
Although Ashley Leow’s life has not been a bed of roses, she emerged as one of SMK (P) St George’s top scorers.
The Penang lass has always kept her spirits high despite her family not being able to provide the best for her.
Ecstatic: (From left) Yeoh, Leow and Chan showing off their results to principal Shariffah Afifah in Penang Thursday.
Leow, who scored 9 A+s, said her family was not well-off and there were times when she wished she had what her friends had.
“My mother is a housewife. My father got retrenched last year and is now helping a relative with his business.
“Sometimes I wish I could afford some nice things like what my friends had, but I didn’t let it get me down,” the bubbly 18-year-old said.
She said she did not expect to do so well, especially in Mathematics since it was her weakest subject.
Leow was also active in many co-curricular activities, namely judo, bowling and the Interact Club.
The Sukma 2008 bronze medal winner said her passion for judo helped instil discipline in her and taught her many of life’s lessons.
Fellow 9 A+s scorer Stephanie Chan said that although she, Leow and another top scorer Yeoh Jin Ming were not in the same class, they had discussions whenever they were not clear about something.
Yeoh said she was surprised when she scored 9A+s as she only started revising in the few months leading up to the exam.
“But it’s important to pay attention in class and to concentrate in your lessons,” she added.
Principal Shariffah Afifah Syed Abbas attributed the success of the school, one of the first 20 high performance schools in the country, to the students, teachers and parents.
In Ipoh, news of Hu May Khei being one of the country’s top SPM scorers did not come as a surprise to her principal Che Su Mahamud.
Che Su said Hu, of SMK Convent Taiping, had scored in all public examinations.
Hu is studying in Singapore now.
“She is a pleasant girl who is an all rounder,” Che Su added. In Malacca, Lai Yin Kwin, who attributed his top-scoring success to strong family support and self-discipline, is among the top 10 students in the country.
Lai, who is from Malacca High School and scored 9As, thanked his parents, in particular his mother Ng Gek Choo and two elder sisters who had also previously scored straight As in their SPM.
In Klang, it was an early birthday gift for Siti Aisyah Mohd Ramli as she emerged as one of the top scorers in Selangor.
Siti Aisyah, who is going to celebrate her 17th birthday on March 14, said she believed the key to her achievement was from sharing knowledge and helping others in their studies.
TS
Education Ministry releases names of best schools and students
The practice of listing top students who excel in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) is back after an absence of a few years.
This year, Gladys Tan Yee Kim from SMK Green Road in Kuching emerged the top SPM student in the country with a score of 10A+’s.
The practice was stopped as the ministry was moving towards a more holistic education system and there were suicide cases involving several students who did not perform well in public examinations.
Announcing the list, Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom added that the country’s top school was SM Sains Seremban (see list).
He said a total of 7,987 students obtained a combination of A+, A and A- in all the subjects taken in the SPM last year, adding that 214 students from government schools and 41 students who were either from private schools or private candidates, obtained A+ in all subjects taken.
“We have implemented a more detailed grading system starting from last year’s SPM and an A+ grade is considered a super distinction,” he told reporters when announcing the analysis of the SPM and Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) 2009 results at the ministry yesterday.
Alimuddin added that A+ was the highest possible grade, which meant students would have scored more than 90% in the subject (see chart).
Students are now graded according to A+, A, A-, B+, B, C+, C, D, E and G compared to previously when the grades were from 1A to 9G.
On the number of subjects taken by students, he said 3,052 students sat for 10 subjects, 2,230 took 11, 1,700 took nine while only one student took 17, four took 16, and 13 took 15.
Alimuddin said 538 students with special needs were among the 465,853 who sat for the SPM.
He said Ng Jin Lui from SMK Gajah Berang in Malacca, who is visually impaired, was the top special needs student in the country with four A+’s, three A’s and four A-’s.
In Science, English and Moral Education, Alimuddin said rural students did better than their urban counterparts.
For the overall results, Alimuddin said 364,046 students obtained the SPM certificate this year compared to 347,443 in 2008.
Of the total who obtained the certificate, 199,155 passed all their subjects compared to 181,419 in 2008.
On the overall achievement of schools for SPM in relation to National Key Result Areas, Alimuddin said a majority of them were in the excellent, good and moderate categories.
“About 143 (6.7%) of the schools are in the ‘with potential category’,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said 3,138 students obtained the STAM certificate with the minimum grade of Maqbul (Pass).
“Their achievements mean they will be able to obtain a place at Al-Azhar University in Egypt and other institutions,” he said.
This year, Gladys Tan Yee Kim from SMK Green Road in Kuching emerged the top SPM student in the country with a score of 10A+’s.
The practice was stopped as the ministry was moving towards a more holistic education system and there were suicide cases involving several students who did not perform well in public examinations.
Announcing the list, Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom added that the country’s top school was SM Sains Seremban (see list).
He said a total of 7,987 students obtained a combination of A+, A and A- in all the subjects taken in the SPM last year, adding that 214 students from government schools and 41 students who were either from private schools or private candidates, obtained A+ in all subjects taken.
“We have implemented a more detailed grading system starting from last year’s SPM and an A+ grade is considered a super distinction,” he told reporters when announcing the analysis of the SPM and Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) 2009 results at the ministry yesterday.
Alimuddin added that A+ was the highest possible grade, which meant students would have scored more than 90% in the subject (see chart).
Students are now graded according to A+, A, A-, B+, B, C+, C, D, E and G compared to previously when the grades were from 1A to 9G.
On the number of subjects taken by students, he said 3,052 students sat for 10 subjects, 2,230 took 11, 1,700 took nine while only one student took 17, four took 16, and 13 took 15.
Alimuddin said 538 students with special needs were among the 465,853 who sat for the SPM.
He said Ng Jin Lui from SMK Gajah Berang in Malacca, who is visually impaired, was the top special needs student in the country with four A+’s, three A’s and four A-’s.
In Science, English and Moral Education, Alimuddin said rural students did better than their urban counterparts.
For the overall results, Alimuddin said 364,046 students obtained the SPM certificate this year compared to 347,443 in 2008.
Of the total who obtained the certificate, 199,155 passed all their subjects compared to 181,419 in 2008.
On the overall achievement of schools for SPM in relation to National Key Result Areas, Alimuddin said a majority of them were in the excellent, good and moderate categories.
“About 143 (6.7%) of the schools are in the ‘with potential category’,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said 3,138 students obtained the STAM certificate with the minimum grade of Maqbul (Pass).
“Their achievements mean they will be able to obtain a place at Al-Azhar University in Egypt and other institutions,” he said.
Excelling in SPM without tuition classes
SPM top scorer Grace Kiew Sze-Ern (pic) has proven that students can excel in examinations without attending tuition classes.
“What we learn in school is enough. We could just do revision by ourselves at home,” said the SMK (P) Sri Aman student after collecting her results in school yesterday.
Kiew, 17, who obtained 15A+s, is the second top student in the country’s SPM 2009 results.
When asked what was her secret, she replied in jest: “Study hard and pray a lot.”
However, she admitted to crying the day before collecting her results due to pressure, and was relieved that she did so well.
Born in Warrington, Britain, and raised in Malaysia, Kiew was a principal cellist in her school’s orchestra.
She also speaks Japanese and a little bit of Korean.
Kiew is looking at options such as medicine and dentistry.
Principal Alainal Hasani Md Noor said she was very proud of her students’ achievement.
“It’s a gift from them to me,” said Alainal.
Another student, Siti Aqeela Shaik Mohamed, who obtained 10A+s, was in tears when she received her result slips from the principal.
Education Ministry releases names of best schools and students
The practice of listing top students who excel in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) is back after an absence of a few years.
This year, Gladys Tan Yee Kim from SMK Green Road in Kuching emerged the top SPM student in the country with a score of 10A+’s.
The practice was stopped as the ministry was moving towards a more holistic education system and there were suicide cases involving several students who did not perform well in public examinations.
Announcing the list, Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom added that the country’s top school was SM Sains Seremban (see list).
He said a total of 7,987 students obtained a combination of A+, A and A- in all the subjects taken in the SPM last year, adding that 214 students from government schools and 41 students who were either from private schools or private candidates, obtained A+ in all subjects taken.
“We have implemented a more detailed grading system starting from last year’s SPM and an A+ grade is considered a super distinction,” he told reporters when announcing the analysis of the SPM and Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) 2009 results at the ministry yesterday.
Alimuddin added that A+ was the highest possible grade, which meant students would have scored more than 90% in the subject (see chart).
Students are now graded according to A+, A, A-, B+, B, C+, C, D, E and G compared to previously when the grades were from 1A to 9G.
On the number of subjects taken by students, he said 3,052 students sat for 10 subjects, 2,230 took 11, 1,700 took nine while only one student took 17, four took 16, and 13 took 15.
Alimuddin said 538 students with special needs were among the 465,853 who sat for the SPM.
He said Ng Jin Lui from SMK Gajah Berang in Malacca, who is visually impaired, was the top special needs student in the country with four A+’s, three A’s and four A-’s.
In Science, English and Moral Education, Alimuddin said rural students did better than their urban counterparts.
For the overall results, Alimuddin said 364,046 students obtained the SPM certificate this year compared to 347,443 in 2008.
Of the total who obtained the certificate, 199,155 passed all their subjects compared to 181,419 in 2008.
On the overall achievement of schools for SPM in relation to National Key Result Areas, Alimuddin said a majority of them were in the excellent, good and moderate categories.
“About 143 (6.7%) of the schools are in the ‘with potential category’,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said 3,138 students obtained the STAM certificate with the minimum grade of Maqbul (Pass).
“Their achievements mean they will be able to obtain a place at Al-Azhar University in Egypt and other institutions,” he said.
TS
January 26, 2010
Heroic teacher honoured
The SK Dipang teacher recalled that he was among a handful of people who jumped into the Kampar River to save the pupils after the suspension bridge gave way.
“I will never forget that day as I watched so many pupils fighting against the strong current to stay afloat,” he said after accepting a certificate of appreciation from Perak Fire and Rescue Department director Asst Comm Mohd Din Rajad during the firemen’s annual gathering at the Gopeng Fire Station Tuesday.
The certificate was given in recognition of his heroic efforts during the Oct 26 incident last year.
Three schoolchildren attending the 1Malaysia camp in Kuala Dipang – N. Dina Deve and M. Devatharshini, both 11, and V. Divyashree, 12 – drowned after the suspension bridge collapsed.
The 34-year-old said he instinctively jumped into the river and managed to save three schoolchildren and a civilian who had wanted to help, from being swept away.
“I never thought this could happen,” he added.
“I almost drowned as I was holding on to two schoolchildren while trying to make it to the riverbank.”
When asked how he felt about receiving the certificate, Mohd Sharif said although he appreciated the gesture, he was not proud to receive the award because three pupils had lost their lives.
“I would have been proud if the three had been saved,” he said.
“I will never forget that day as I watched so many pupils fighting against the strong current to stay afloat,” he said after accepting a certificate of appreciation from Perak Fire and Rescue Department director Asst Comm Mohd Din Rajad during the firemen’s annual gathering at the Gopeng Fire Station Tuesday.
The certificate was given in recognition of his heroic efforts during the Oct 26 incident last year.
Three schoolchildren attending the 1Malaysia camp in Kuala Dipang – N. Dina Deve and M. Devatharshini, both 11, and V. Divyashree, 12 – drowned after the suspension bridge collapsed.
The 34-year-old said he instinctively jumped into the river and managed to save three schoolchildren and a civilian who had wanted to help, from being swept away.
“I never thought this could happen,” he added.
“I almost drowned as I was holding on to two schoolchildren while trying to make it to the riverbank.”
When asked how he felt about receiving the certificate, Mohd Sharif said although he appreciated the gesture, he was not proud to receive the award because three pupils had lost their lives.
“I would have been proud if the three had been saved,” he said.
Heroic teacher honoured
The SK Dipang teacher recalled that he was among a handful of people who jumped into the Kampar River to save the pupils after the suspension bridge gave way.
“I will never forget that day as I watched so many pupils fighting against the strong current to stay afloat,” he said after accepting a certificate of appreciation from Perak Fire and Rescue Department director Asst Comm Mohd Din Rajad during the firemen’s annual gathering at the Gopeng Fire Station Tuesday.
The certificate was given in recognition of his heroic efforts during the Oct 26 incident last year.
Three schoolchildren attending the 1Malaysia camp in Kuala Dipang – N. Dina Deve and M. Devatharshini, both 11, and V. Divyashree, 12 – drowned after the suspension bridge collapsed.
The 34-year-old said he instinctively jumped into the river and managed to save three schoolchildren and a civilian who had wanted to help, from being swept away.
“I never thought this could happen,” he added.
“I almost drowned as I was holding on to two schoolchildren while trying to make it to the riverbank.”
When asked how he felt about receiving the certificate, Mohd Sharif said although he appreciated the gesture, he was not proud to receive the award because three pupils had lost their lives.
“I would have been proud if the three had been saved,” he said.
“I will never forget that day as I watched so many pupils fighting against the strong current to stay afloat,” he said after accepting a certificate of appreciation from Perak Fire and Rescue Department director Asst Comm Mohd Din Rajad during the firemen’s annual gathering at the Gopeng Fire Station Tuesday.
The certificate was given in recognition of his heroic efforts during the Oct 26 incident last year.
Three schoolchildren attending the 1Malaysia camp in Kuala Dipang – N. Dina Deve and M. Devatharshini, both 11, and V. Divyashree, 12 – drowned after the suspension bridge collapsed.
The 34-year-old said he instinctively jumped into the river and managed to save three schoolchildren and a civilian who had wanted to help, from being swept away.
“I never thought this could happen,” he added.
“I almost drowned as I was holding on to two schoolchildren while trying to make it to the riverbank.”
When asked how he felt about receiving the certificate, Mohd Sharif said although he appreciated the gesture, he was not proud to receive the award because three pupils had lost their lives.
“I would have been proud if the three had been saved,” he said.
January 14, 2010
Principals directed to step up security in schools
The Education Ministry has instructed all school principals and headmasters nationwide to step up security at their schools after a Molotov cocktail was thrown at the guardhouse of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Convent here Sunday.
Education Director-General Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom said Monday they had been reminded to abide by circular 4/2002 on the implementation of the safe school programme in handling matters related to the security of schools and students.
"The school security guards have also been directed to enforce tighter control in their areas. They must contact the police immediately if there is anything suspicious," he told reporters after visiting SMK Convent here.
He said that generally, security at SMK Convent and other schools in the country was good and the safety of students was assured and teachers and parents need not worry about Sunday's incident.
Meanwhile, Perak Mentri Besar Perak Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir reminded politicians not play up the arson attacks on several churches for political mileage.
All parties, including the media, should play their role and make national security and peace their priority, he said after visiting the St Louis Catholic Church, located next to SMK Convent, which was believed to be the target of the attack.
A Molotov cocktail was also thrown at the All Saints Church in Jalan Taming Sari Sunday but there was no damage done in both incidents. - Bernama
Education Director-General Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom said Monday they had been reminded to abide by circular 4/2002 on the implementation of the safe school programme in handling matters related to the security of schools and students.
"The school security guards have also been directed to enforce tighter control in their areas. They must contact the police immediately if there is anything suspicious," he told reporters after visiting SMK Convent here.
He said that generally, security at SMK Convent and other schools in the country was good and the safety of students was assured and teachers and parents need not worry about Sunday's incident.
Meanwhile, Perak Mentri Besar Perak Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir reminded politicians not play up the arson attacks on several churches for political mileage.
All parties, including the media, should play their role and make national security and peace their priority, he said after visiting the St Louis Catholic Church, located next to SMK Convent, which was believed to be the target of the attack.
A Molotov cocktail was also thrown at the All Saints Church in Jalan Taming Sari Sunday but there was no damage done in both incidents. - Bernama
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