Sekolah larang pelajar bawa netbook 1Malaysia takut bil elektrik naik

Posted on May 7, 2012, Monday

LUBOK ANTU: Timbalan Menteri Penerangan Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan Datuk Joseph Salang terkejut dengan tindakan beberapa sekolah di kawasan luar bandar Sarawak yang melarang pelajar membawa netbook 1Malaysia mereka ke sekolah.

Katanya, beliau dimaklumkan bahawa sekolah berkenaan tidak mahu pelajar terbabit mengecas semula netbook mereka di sekolah kerana ini akan meningkatkan bil elektrik.

“Ini satu berita baharu kepada saya, tetapi malangnya ia bukan berita baik,” katanya semasa merasmikan program sesi rakaman sambutan Gawai Dayak oleh Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) di rumah panjang 57 pintu, Rumah Jubang Bin, di Sebangki Panjai di sini malam kelmarin.

“Netbook diberikan kepada pelajar untuk membantu mereka dalam pelajaran. Tetapi jika mereka tidak dibenarkan membawanya ke sekolah, matlamat itu tidak akan tercapai,” katanya.

Turut hadir pada program itu ialah Ahli Parlimen Lubok Antu William Nyalau Badak dan Pengerusi Telekom Malaysia Datuk Dr Halim Shafie.

“Jika pendekatan itu menjadi amalan atau bakal dijadikan peraturan, ini juga merupakan satu kerugian besar di pihak kerajaan. Di pihak saya, saya akan maklumkan perkara ini kepada Kementerian Pelajaran untuk mencari penyelesaian secara baik demi kebaikan pelajar,” katanya Salang.

Beliau berkata kerajaan akan mengagihkan lebih banyak netbook kepada pelajar dan pemimpin masyarakat di kawasan luar bandar di seluruh negeri pada bulan ini dalam usaha  merapatkan jurang digital di luar bandar.

Mengenai permohonan yang disampaikan oleh Nyalau bagi pihak penduduk yang mahu RTM mempertimbangkan menambah durasi penyiaran TVi daripada 15 minit ketika ini kepada 30 minit atau lebih, Salang berkata beliau telah bangkitkan perkara itu kepada Ketua Pengarah Penyiaran Datuk Norhyati Ismail.

“Saya dimaklumkan yang penyiaran ini amat popular terutama di kalangan kaum Iban di kawasan luar bandar yang melanggan perkhidmatan Astro. Norhyati memberitahu saya RTM sedang mencari slot untuk berbuat demikian. Apabila RTM bersiaran secara digital sepenuhnya tidak lama lagi, akan ada lebih banyak slot,” katanya.

Salang juga menasihati rakyat supaya menyokong hanya calon-calon Barisan Nasional (BN) pada Pilihan Raya Umum akan datang, menyatakan hanya kerajaan BN mempunyai wawasan, strategi dan perancangan untuk meningkatkan taraf hidup mereka. — Bernama

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/05/07/sekolah-larang-pelajar-bawa-netbook-1malaysia-takut-bil-elektrik-naik/#ixzz1uEpPlTTZ

Schooling the poorest

Tuesday, May 08, 2012

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Homeless children need consideration for their special needs

THERE are many ways in which to battle poverty. Governments can institute minimum wages, provide free or subsidised public housing, and give seasonal handouts. These measures help. But the single greatest game-changer is a good education. In an upwardly mobile society, education can help the children of the poor to break the cycle of poverty seemingly set for them by the preceding generation. A good and solid education, when matched with the opportunity for tertiary studies, can bring a dimensional difference to the next generation’s life. But at the  basic, without a school leaver’s certificate, without the ability to at least read, write and do arithmetic, a person has greatly reduced chances of getting a job that could  make any significant economic difference to his life.

For homeless children, the challenge is particularly tough. Whereas children in reduced circumstances but who have a home might have the stigma of being poor to contend with, the indigent have to survive the risks, discomforts and uncertainties of an itinerant life. And when the next meal or next shelter can be as unpredictable as the next year can be to an “ordinary” child, the fixed routine of waking up, going to school, finishing homework, and getting a good night’s sleep — the every day job of most children — must surely be a luxury, if not pure fantasy.

But, being homeless does not mean the end of hope. Which is why a special school for street and homeless children in the Klang Valley is being proposed. This is not a new concept. In the United States, which has 1.5 million homeless children, the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 1987 made it federal law for all districts to increase enrolment and attendance in school, by removing the barriers to education caused by homelessness — like lack of a fixed address, vaccination or documents. The district has to provide free transport for these children, no matter the distance. The schools that observed the spirit of this law found ways to provide more than just transport by also providing meals, healthcare, school supplies, school lockers, and even laundry services, so that the children wouldn’t be embarrassed to go to school in dirty clothes. Schools that did not observe the law risk losing federal aid. Between 2008 and 2009, there were nearly one million homeless children in public schools. And though there are a handful of special schools just for the homeless, the majority get shelter and understanding from ordinary schools, learning cheek by jowl with all the varied young members of society.

Read more: Schooling the poorest – Editorial – New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/editorial/schooling-the-poorest-1.81634#ixzz1uEkn0Ntd

Still seeking views on English schools

Tuesday, May 08, 2012

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EDUCATION DIALOGUES: Ministry also studying legal implications

THE Education Ministry is still gathering the views of  relevant quarters before making any decision to reintroduce English-medium schools.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said the matter, including legal implications, would have to be discussed first before a decision could be made.

He said several quarters had called for the reintroduction of such schools and the ministry was gathering views through national education dialogues.

He was replying to a question by Senator Dr S. Ramakrishnan who wanted to know why the government could not reintroduce English-medium schools when it allowed Chinese, Tamil and religious schools to coexist with national schools.

“Of late, there have been calls for it to be revived and we are listening,” said Wee.

He said the ministry was constantly trying to improve students’ command of English as a communication and knowledge tool.

“English also allows them to use the Internet to network with overseas students.”

He also said the ministry was carrying out various programmes and activities in English in all schools.

The ministry would ensure that English remained a core subject.

Wee added that the ministry had spent millions of ringgit to bring in native speakers of English to train local teachers.

Read more: Still seeking views on English schools – General – New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/still-seeking-views-on-english-schools-1.81656#ixzz1uEjUDd7Z

Tuesday May 8, 2012

Students strap on life jackets instead of seat belts every morning to attend classes

By TEH ENG HOCK
enghock@thestar.com.my

http://star-micro.knorex.asia/static-property-gallery/property_carousel_2.html

TANJUNG KARANG: While most of their schoolmates go to school by either bus or car, some 90 pupils of SJK (C) Yit Khwan here catch the fishing boat every morning.

Their preferred choice of transportation is all the more astonishing because they only stay some 15 minutes away from Tanjung Karang town and not in some rural area in interior Sabah and Sarawak.

Besides putting on their school uniform every morning, these children of Kampung Bagan Sungai Kajang slip on an extra item of clothing a life jacket before leaving home.

“Every student has his or her own life jacket. Otherwise, they will be reprimanded by their teachers when they get to school,” said village chief Ang Seng Hock.

He said the jackets, available in children’s sizes, were given by the Government to ensure the pupils’ safety.

Villagers have been taking the boat to school for the past 60 years and instances of pupils falling into the river are not uncommon. Thankfully, though, no one has ever drowned.

“Sometimes, the children are rushing or are still sleepy and lose their footing when using the ladder to get onto the boat.

“With life jackets on, their lives are not at risk.

“At most they will lose their schoolbooks,” said Ang.

Lim Chuan Yu, 11, fell into the river when he was in Year One.

“Yes, I’m still scared of falling into the river. I slipped when I was climbing the ladder. I’ve also seen some of my friends fall in,” he said before boarding the boat to school yesterday.

Ang said pupils could also travel by road to school, which would take them 10 minutes longer than the boat ride.

There are four boats making a total of seven trips to ferry all the pupils.

“If they take the bus, we need to make at least two trips. With 30 minutes each way, it means the first batch has to leave very early so the bus has time to make the second trip,” he said.

The boat fees are reasonable at RM20 per child per month, he said.

Ang said the village would replace the wooden pier next month with a concrete one, adding that the current structure was falling apart.

“Now, it is about 1.2m wide. The new one will be 3m wide and have steps instead of a ladder for safety reasons,” he said.

Pupil raped in school Nine-year-old sexually abused by teen on three occasions

Tuesday May 8, 2012

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/5/8/nation/11246111&sec=nation

A 14-year-old boy used the premises of a primary school in Alor Gajah to rape a nine-year-old girl on three separate occasions during the past week, reported Harian Metro.

The boy would stalk his victim, waiting to drag the girl to the school’s stairwell during break or after school.

It was reported that the boy threatened the girl with a sharp weapon each time, even pressing this against her throat to warn her against telling anyone about her ordeal.

However, the victim, a Primary Three pupil, could no longer take the abuse and informed her school authorities after she was raped for the third time.

A source said the school authorities immediately carried out an investigation and informed the girl’s mother.

Alor Gajah district police chief Supt Umar Ali Saifuddin Shaharuddin confirmed that a police report had been lodged, adding that a suspect had been identified and would be arrested soon.

Kad diskaun pelajar bulan depan

08 Mei 2012, Selasa

http://www.utusan.com.my/info.asp?y=2012&dt=0508&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Dalam_Negeri&pg=dn_12.htm

KUBANG PASU 7 Mei – Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan akan memperkenalkan kad diskaun kepada pelajar institusi pengajian tinggi (IPT) pada bulan depan demi meringankan beban golongan tersebut.

Menterinya, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaacob berkata, kaedah itu membolehkan penuntut menikmati harga diskaun 10 hingga 30 peratus bagi pembelian barangan keperluan pengajian termasuk buku, barangan sukan serta tambang pengangkutan awam.

Katanya, sebagai permulaan, sebanyak 20 syarikat akan menyertai program itu sebagai rakan dagang untuk memberikan potongan tersebut kepada pelajar IPT awam dan swasta.

“Kad diskaun tersebut akan dilancarkan oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak pada Jun ini. Dengan memiliki kad ini siswa akan menikmati potongan harga istimewa daripada syarikat yang menyertai program tersebut.

“Kad tersebut dijangka memanfaatkan kira-kira 1.4 juta pelajar IPT di seluruh negara secara berperingkat iaitu fasa pertama pelancarannya kelak akan membabitkan pelajar tahun akhir sebelum diperluaskan kepada pelajar lain,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Karnival Kerjaya dan Keusahawanan UUM 2012, Gerakan Pengguna Siswa (GPS) Peringkat Kedah dan Menu Rakyat 1Malaysia UUM di kampus berkenaan di sini hari ini.

Turut hadir, Naib Canselor UUM, Datuk Dr. Mohamed Mustafa Ishak.

Ismail Sabri menambah, permintaan mewujudkan kad diskaun tersebut adalah daripada idea siswazah sendiri melalui persidangan Majlis Perwakilan Pelajar Kebangsaan (MPPK) pada tahun lalu yang dipengerusikan oleh Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

“Usul tersebut kemudian dibawa ke Kabinet dan dibincangkan, seterusnya dipersetujui untuk dilaksanakan. Ini membuktikan bahawa kerajaan amat menitikberatkan kehendak rakyat termasuk sentiasa mendengar keluh-kesah para siswa.

“Biar apa juga masalah, kerajaan akan sentiasa membuka pintu untuk rundingan dengan pelajar. Perkara ini lebih baik daripada mengadakan demonstrasi di jalanan untuk mengutuk kerajaan,” katanya.

Bercakap tentang program tersebut, kata beliau, sebanyak 127 IPT di seluruh negara telah menubuhkan GPS dan jumlah tersebut dijangka meningkat berdasarkan maklumat menggalakkan daripada IPT.

“Bagi memacu pelaksanaan GPS ini, kerajaan turut menyediakan bantuan kewangan sebanyak RM3,000 kepada IPT terbabit iaitu RM1,000 bagi penubuhannya dan RM2,000 bagi pelaksanaan program penggunaan.

“GPS merupakan saluran tepat dalam usaha menerapkan pendidikan kepenggunaan di peringkat IPT,” tambah beliau lagi.

Menyentuh mengenai Menu Rakyat 1Malaysia (MR1M) di IPT, tambahnya, sehingga kini terdapat sebanyak 362 premis di 108 IPT di seluruh negara.