Latest news with #MalaysianInclusiveDevelopmentandAdvancementInstitute
The Sun
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
MADANI School Programme gets corporate boost for rural ed
KUALA LUMPUR: The involvement of corporate companies in the success of the MADANI Adopted School Programme is seen as capable of enhancing the competitiveness of students in underprivileged and rural schools, in addition to providing them with better access to quality education and more equal opportunities. Malaysian Inclusive Development and Advancement Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Minda-UKM) deputy director Dr. Anuar Ahmad said that this measure is also believed to help address the educational gap between urban and rural areas, thereby strengthening the national education system. 'We realise that financial assistance is very important, especially for schools in rural areas that face a lack of basic facilities and learning materials such as the latest devices, so with additional financial resources, schools can provide a more conducive learning environment. 'The industry can also contribute through early career exposure. They can visit schools to give briefings so that students can understand earlier about job opportunities, courses or educational pathways, and the skills needed in the real industry,' he told Bernama. Yesterday, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek announced the selection of nearly 1,000 schools for the MADANI School Adoption Programme, implemented in collaboration with 117 private companies, aimed at addressing the education gap across the country. The programme, which started in April, is jointly coordinated by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Ministry of Finance (MOF), and the first phase is expected to be completed by Dec 31, with a programme extension subject to the results of the first phase. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, at the programme's launch event yesterday, also encouraged corporate figures and representatives of the sponsoring companies of the MADANI Adopted School Programme to visit the schools to engage with and provide early exposure to students about the importance of education for their future. Dr Anuar said that the involvement of the corporate company not only strengthened the school's resources and facilities but also increased students' motivation, interest, and aspirations towards learning, and helped them plan their future career paths more clearly and competitively. He also wants the schools to be open to accepting cooperation and views from corporate companies for students' development. 'We do not want schools to merely receive funding without leveraging industry expertise. On the contrary, teachers and students need to be directly guided, including in aspects of technology usage, career exposure and character development,' he said. Meanwhile, National Union of the Teaching Profession of Peninsular Malaysia (NUTP) secretary-general Fouzi Singon, hopes that corporate involvement through the MADANI Adopted School Programme can support the training needs of teachers, especially in rural areas. Fouzi believes that trained teachers who are consistently given professional support can bring significant changes in the classroom, thereby improving student performance and more effectively supporting the implementation of the MADANI Adopted School initiative. Fouzi also wants the initiative to be closely monitored by the government to ensure that all parties involved are truly sincere and committed to realising the programme's goals. 'A comprehensive assessment needs to be conducted on the school's operations so that key factors that can be addressed are identified, thereby ensuring that this initiative has a positive impact on students as well as the welfare of teachers,' he added.
The Sun
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
MADANI Adopted School Programme helps provide better access, equal opportunities for students
KUALA LUMPUR: The involvement of corporate companies in the success of the MADANI Adopted School Programme is seen as capable of enhancing the competitiveness of students in underprivileged and rural schools, in addition to providing them with better access to quality education and more equal opportunities. Malaysian Inclusive Development and Advancement Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Minda-UKM) deputy director Dr. Anuar Ahmad said that this measure is also believed to help address the educational gap between urban and rural areas, thereby strengthening the national education system. 'We realise that financial assistance is very important, especially for schools in rural areas that face a lack of basic facilities and learning materials such as the latest devices, so with additional financial resources, schools can provide a more conducive learning environment. 'The industry can also contribute through early career exposure. They can visit schools to give briefings so that students can understand earlier about job opportunities, courses or educational pathways, and the skills needed in the real industry,' he told Bernama. Yesterday, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek announced the selection of nearly 1,000 schools for the MADANI School Adoption Programme, implemented in collaboration with 117 private companies, aimed at addressing the education gap across the country. The programme, which started in April, is jointly coordinated by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Ministry of Finance (MOF), and the first phase is expected to be completed by Dec 31, with a programme extension subject to the results of the first phase. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, at the programme's launch event yesterday, also encouraged corporate figures and representatives of the sponsoring companies of the MADANI Adopted School Programme to visit the schools to engage with and provide early exposure to students about the importance of education for their future. Dr Anuar said that the involvement of the corporate company not only strengthened the school's resources and facilities but also increased students' motivation, interest, and aspirations towards learning, and helped them plan their future career paths more clearly and competitively. He also wants the schools to be open to accepting cooperation and views from corporate companies for students' development. 'We do not want schools to merely receive funding without leveraging industry expertise. On the contrary, teachers and students need to be directly guided, including in aspects of technology usage, career exposure and character development,' he said. Meanwhile, National Union of the Teaching Profession of Peninsular Malaysia (NUTP) secretary-general Fouzi Singon, hopes that corporate involvement through the MADANI Adopted School Programme can support the training needs of teachers, especially in rural areas. Fouzi believes that trained teachers who are consistently given professional support can bring significant changes in the classroom, thereby improving student performance and more effectively supporting the implementation of the MADANI Adopted School initiative. Fouzi also wants the initiative to be closely monitored by the government to ensure that all parties involved are truly sincere and committed to realising the programme's goals. 'A comprehensive assessment needs to be conducted on the school's operations so that key factors that can be addressed are identified, thereby ensuring that this initiative has a positive impact on students as well as the welfare of teachers,' he added.
Barnama
12 hours ago
- Business
- Barnama
MADANI Adopted School Programme Helps Provide Better Access, Equal Opportunities For Students
GENERAL By Siti Baaqiah Mamat & Nurfardlina Izzati Moktar KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 (Bernama) -- The involvement of corporate companies in the success of the MADANI Adopted School Programme is seen as capable of enhancing the competitiveness of students in underprivileged and rural schools, in addition to providing them with better access to quality education and more equal opportunities. Malaysian Inclusive Development and Advancement Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Minda-UKM) deputy director Dr. Anuar Ahmad said that this measure is also believed to help address the educational gap between urban and rural areas, thereby strengthening the national education system. "We realise that financial assistance is very important, especially for schools in rural areas that face a lack of basic facilities and learning materials such as the latest devices, so with additional financial resources, schools can provide a more conducive learning environment. "The industry can also contribute through early career exposure. They can visit schools to give briefings so that students can understand earlier about job opportunities, courses or educational pathways, and the skills needed in the real industry," he told Bernama. Yesterday, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek announced the selection of nearly 1,000 schools for the MADANI School Adoption Programme, implemented in collaboration with 117 private companies, aimed at addressing the education gap across the country. The programme, which started in April, is jointly coordinated by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Ministry of Finance (MOF), and the first phase is expected to be completed by Dec 31, with a programme extension subject to the results of the first phase. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, at the programme's launch event yesterday, also encouraged corporate figures and representatives of the sponsoring companies of the MADANI Adopted School Programme to visit the schools to engage with and provide early exposure to students about the importance of education for their future. Dr Anuar said that the involvement of the corporate company not only strengthened the school's resources and facilities but also increased students' motivation, interest, and aspirations towards learning, and helped them plan their future career paths more clearly and competitively.
New Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Poor data, policy gaps hurt graduate salary growth
PUTRAJAYA: The stagnation in graduate salaries over the past two decades has been attributed to the lack of complete and comprehensive data on the labour market and higher education. Malaysian Inclusive Development and Advancement Institute (Minda-UKM) director Professor Tan Sri Dr Noor Azlan Ghazali said that without a centralised and integrated data system, policymakers face significant challenges in formulating accurate and effective policies, particularly in addressing wage stagnation and graduate underemployment. He said the availability of comprehensive data is crucial for crafting more effective employment and education policies, as well as intervention strategies. He said the real issue that is often overlooked is that many graduates today are employed in jobs that do not match their qualifications or skills. "We often hear claims of demand for tens of thousands of engineers, but actual data shows that only around 30,000 to 40,000 high-skilled jobs are created, while our universities produce over 300,000 graduates each year. "But the question is, where do all these graduates go? As a result, many either seek opportunities abroad or are forced to accept jobs that fall below their qualification levels. "This, in turn, leads them to compete with foreign workers in low-skilled sectors, further contributing to issues such as rising living costs and imbalances in the labour market," he said when met at the One-Year Retreat Session following the 2024 Bumiputera Economic Congress. Previously, a report by the PNB Research Institute (PNBRI), titled Entry-Level Salary Trend in Malaysia: Insights from Private Sector Employment (1997–2022), revealed that the median salary for Malaysian degree holders has declined over the past 25 years, falling from 2.7 times the salary of SPM holders in 1997 to just 1.7 times in 2022. Meanwhile, Noor Azlan added that, based on available data, job creation within the industrial sector remains relatively low compared to the number of graduates produced annually by the country's institutions of higher learning. He also warned that the issue of stagnant graduate salaries could have long-term consequences for the national economy, with one of the most concerning outcomes being growing public scepticism about the value of higher education. He said the perception that attending university no longer guarantees a secure future could discourage individuals from pursuing further studies, even though education should be regarded as a long-term investment in developing high-quality human capital. "There is nothing wrong with someone choosing to work early to gain experience, but if that decision stems from a loss of confidence in the education system, then that is truly worrying. "Knowledge still matters. We must understand that to become a developed nation, society must value education and knowledge," he said.
