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New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Yayasan Petronas adopts 50 schools under Sekolah Angkat Madani initiative
PUTRAJAYA: Yayasan Petronas has adopted 50 schools nationwide in the government's Sekolah Angkat Madani initiative, with a key focus on enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. Its chief executive officer, Nelly Francis, said the foundation's involvement is centred on schools that currently participate in its Duta Guru Programme (PDG), a long-term initiative aimed at strengthening STEM teaching and learning. "Under this initiative, we have selected 50 schools out of the 1,000 nationwide that are already involved in our PDG. "These schools were chosen based on specific criteria, including their active participation in our existing programmes," she told reporters when met after the launch of the initiative today. The launch was attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek. Nelly said priority was given to schools located in rural areas, with the majority of them in Sabah, Sarawak, Terengganu and Johor, as well as several schools in Kedah, Perak and Kelantan. As part of the support, she said teachers from the selected schools will undergo a two-year professional development programme designed to equip them with skills to cultivate students' interest in STEM and guide them towards pursuing careers in the field. "It is not just about improving the teaching environment, but also inspiring students to view STEM as a viable and exciting career path," she said. Apart from empowering teachers, Yayasan Petronas also runs programmes for students under the Student Innovation Centre, provides contributions to improve school science laboratories, and develops STEM hubs in six regions. "We have completed STEM hubs in Tanjung Garam, Kuala Terengganu and Miri, Sarawak, while new hubs in Sabah, Johor, Melaka and Perak are currently under construction," she said. Nelly said these STEM hubs serve as platforms for teachers to further refine and apply the skills gained through PDG, as well as collaborate with other educators in their districts to enrich classroom learning. "All students in the adopted schools will be involved, particularly those who are pursuing STEM-related subjects," she said. Nelly reaffirmed that advancing STEM education remains one of Yayasan Petronas' core missions. "Right now, one of our key targets is to increase students' participation in STEM. We believe through sustained collaboration with teachers and schools, we can help shape the future of Malaysia's STEM talents," she said.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
UP Board to crack down on age fraud in High School exams
The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad, commonly known as UP Board, is to step up efforts to combat age fraud in High School examinations. Addressing the issue at the annual general meeting of the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) held in New Delhi on June 14, UP Board secretary Bhagwati Singh announced plans to introduce stronger, technology-driven safeguards to prevent the misuse of forged documents in student registrations. The problem is particularly prevalent in the sports sector, where overage athletes manipulate their birth records to compete in younger age categories. As the largest school board in the country, the UP Board has been a prime target for such fraudulent activities. Singh said, 'We are committed to making the registration process more secure and foolproof.' One of the key solutions under consideration is the integration of Aadhaar and APAAR ID (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) into the student registration process. 'Linking these digital identity systems will help ensure data authenticity and minimise age-related fraud,' Singh said, after returning to Prayagraj from the meeting. The APAAR ID is a 12-digit unique student identifier launched under the Union government's 'One Nation, One Student ID' initiative, as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It allows students to digitally store and access their academic records, thus serving as a lifelong academic identity. At the SGFI meeting, Uttar Pradesh was also recognised for organising the best sporting events, with secretary Bhagwati Singh receiving the award on behalf of the state. The gathering also ratified previous resolutions and discussed future action plans and strategic initiatives to strengthen the education ecosystem.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Public hearing on tuition, fees is June 12 at ISU
Indiana State University will conduct a public hearing at 1 p.m. June 12 in the Stateroom at Tirey Hall. The hearing will be on student tuition and mandatory student fees for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 academic years. There is no increase in student tuition planned for full-time undergraduate or graduate Indiana resident students for 2025-26 or 2026-27, the university said in a news release.. The Student Recreation Center fee and Student Health and Wellness fee for both academic years will remain flat at $100 and $40 per semester, respectively. The non-resident full-time undergraduate and graduate student tuition is proposed to increase by 5.0 % in 2025-26 and an additional 5.0% in 2026-27. The hearing is required under Indiana Code 21-14-2-8. The increased non-resident student tuition is necessary to fund the University's operating budget. Individuals who wish to make comments are asked to limit comments to three minutes or less. The university board of trustees will review public comments from the hearing and is scheduled to vote on the tuition proposal and fee proposal at its June 27 meeting.
NDTV
28-05-2025
- NDTV
US Cracks Down On Students In Optional Practical Training. Here's Why
A large number of international students in the US, particularly those on Optional Practical Training (OPT), are receiving stern notices from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) warning of possible SEVIS record termination and deportation. The warnings stem from missing or outdated employer information in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which tracks students' employment status. OPT rules allow a maximum of 90 days of unemployment over the standard 12-month period, with an additional 60 days for students in the STEM-OPT extension. The ICE letter gives students just 15 days to update their SEVIS records. If employment details remain missing, students could face removal proceedings. A letter reviewed by TOI reads: "Because there is no employer information in your SEVIS record, you are accumulating unemployment days... failure to take corrective action may result in immigration proceedings." The Indian student community is particularly affected. Of the 2.7 lakh Indian students in the US in 2022-23, nearly 69,000 were in OPT programmes. Immigration lawyers are urging students to report job changes, losses, and new employment within 10 days.
News18
28-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Challenges Mount For International Students As Trump's USCIS Nominee Eyes OPT Ban
Last Updated: President Trump's USCIS nominee, Joseph Edlow, plans to eliminate the OPT programme, worrying international students. Amid ongoing uncertainties surrounding their academic future, international students in the United States face a fresh challenge, with President Donald Trump's nominee for the top role at US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Joseph Edlow, indicating that he intends to eliminate the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme if selected for the job. Edlow made the statement during a recent confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, reigniting concerns among international students already navigating a complex immigration landscape, as reported by Financial Express. In recent weeks, reportedly, many students currently on OPT have received alarming letters from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), threatening termination of their SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) records and possible deportation. One such letter, accessed by The Times of India, warned students about the absence of employer details in their SEVIS records, noting that this could count as unemployment — a violation of OPT rules. The letter gave recipients 15 days to update their records or face immigration proceedings. What Is OPT And Why Does It Matter? The Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme is a key pathway for international students in the U.S. to gain hands-on work experience after completing their degrees. Under this programme, eligible students are allowed to work for up to 12 months in their field of study. Those with degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) can apply for a 24-month extension, known as STEM OPT. Students must report employment information in the SEVIS system to remain compliant. As per current regulations, OPT participants are allowed a maximum of 90 days of unemployment within the standard 12-month period. For those on STEM OPT, an additional 60 days is permitted. A move to end OPT will deeply impact the Indian students in the US, who form one of the largest international student populations in the country. According to the Open Doors 2024 report, there were 331,602 Indian students in the US during the 2023–2024 academic year. Of these, 97,556 were participating in the OPT programme — a staggering 41% increase from the previous year. If the OPT programme is indeed dismantled, it could severely limit post-study work opportunities for Indian students and disrupt the educational and career plans of thousands. The proposed changes could also make the US a less attractive destination for higher education. First Published: May 28, 2025, 10:52 IST
