LONDON: Malaysia is studying a radical British e-learning method to help “leapfrog” the learning and teaching system in schools, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
He expressed interest in the Frog Learning Platform which could be customised for Malay-sian schools as part of overall efforts to further raise the standard of education.
Muhyiddin, who is also Edu-cation Minister, said the creative learning and teaching programme focusing on ICT had been successfully implemented in selected British schools.
“We will review the Frog method and see whether it can be adopted for our schools,” he told Malaysian journalists yesterday after attending a briefing by Sunbury Manor School head teacher Louise Duncan on the programme’s benefits.
Sunbury, a specialist humanities school in Middlesex, is ranked among the top 25% of schools in UK for progress by its 1,025 students.
Frog offers exceptional creative control – enabling teachers, administrative staff and even pupils to fully embed their learning platform into their working practices and tailor it to the needs of their respective schools.
Muhyiddin was originally scheduled to visit the school and tour its e-learning facilities but the trip was called off due to the snow and he had to attend the presentation at the Sheraton Park Tower where he is staying.
The deputy prime minister said the ministry has not made a decision on the system as a comprehensive study had to be carried out by its education technology division.
He added the costs were substantial as it involved hardware and software elements.
“The company has rolled out the Frog system wireless and if we adopt it, almost all houses in Malaysia can access the e-learning method,” he said, referring to the involvement of parental engagement. The Star
Monday, January 11, 2010
Netbook package available soon for university students, lecturers
KUALA LUMPUR: A netbook package with free broadband service for students and lecturers will be launched soon.
The package, supported by Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), will be introduced this year as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak when he tabled the 2010 Budget last October.
For a start, TM will offer the netbook package, including free broadband service, to 100,000 university students with a monthly installment of RM50 for two years.
"First-year students and those from low-income families will be given priority. TM will announce details of the package soon," its vice-president (Retail Product) Aziz A. Hadi told Bernama.
Apart from contributing towards increasing the broadband penetration rate and using the Information Communication Technology (ICT) to create a knowledge-based society, the package would also support the government's efforts to strengthen human capital development.
In 2008, there were 400,949 local students at public institutions of higher learning, and 399,852 at private institutions.
Universiti Malaya Student Council president Mohd Ridzuan Mohammad described the move as appropriate to enable students to get faster access to information on the Internet.
"It will also enable students to find references and obtain the latest information on current local and international issues.
"I just hope that the government's initiative will be welcomed and used by the students in a positive way. In other words, I hope they will not abuse it," he said.
Although the charge imposed by TM was low, Mohd Ridzuan hoped the service offered would be of high quality.
Hanapi Azizul, 23, who studies management and administration at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, said the initiative would definitely help the students, especially the underprivileged.
"We cannot afford to buy the netbook and subscribe to the broadband service ourselves. Sometimes, the scholarship money is insufficient. So, this initiative really helps.
"At least, we can save on the scholarship, loan or our own pocket money for something else, in case of emergency, or save it for our practical training which can be costly," he said.
Several lecturers interviewed by Bernama also lauded the initiative and described the netbook and broadband service as a necessity in the modern world.
It would also teach the students to be more responsible as the netbook was not given for free.
Dean of Modern Languages and Communication Faculty at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Prof Madya Dr Che Ibrahim Salleh, said the monthly instalment would also enable the students to be committed.
His view was echoed by his deputy, Prof Madya Dr Abdul Mua'ati alias Zamri Ahmad, who said the instalment was just right.
"If the government offers the netbook package for free, it will not be appreciated. It will end up like some school textbooks that were vandalised or torn because they were free.
"However, when the student has to pay an affordable RM50 monthly, they will take good care of and love the device because they know that it can help them in their studies. So, I think it is a very good move," he said.
Meanwhile, Kolej Universiti Islam Selangor communication department head Nur Aina Nabila Dundai Abdullah said the students really needed such a package to enable them to become more competitive.
"Usually, the students go to cyber cafes to surf the Internet but the time spent to get the information is limited. Thus, with the package, they can get internet access wherever they are," she said. - Bernama
The package, supported by Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), will be introduced this year as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak when he tabled the 2010 Budget last October.
For a start, TM will offer the netbook package, including free broadband service, to 100,000 university students with a monthly installment of RM50 for two years.
"First-year students and those from low-income families will be given priority. TM will announce details of the package soon," its vice-president (Retail Product) Aziz A. Hadi told Bernama.
Apart from contributing towards increasing the broadband penetration rate and using the Information Communication Technology (ICT) to create a knowledge-based society, the package would also support the government's efforts to strengthen human capital development.
In 2008, there were 400,949 local students at public institutions of higher learning, and 399,852 at private institutions.
Universiti Malaya Student Council president Mohd Ridzuan Mohammad described the move as appropriate to enable students to get faster access to information on the Internet.
"It will also enable students to find references and obtain the latest information on current local and international issues.
"I just hope that the government's initiative will be welcomed and used by the students in a positive way. In other words, I hope they will not abuse it," he said.
Although the charge imposed by TM was low, Mohd Ridzuan hoped the service offered would be of high quality.
Hanapi Azizul, 23, who studies management and administration at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, said the initiative would definitely help the students, especially the underprivileged.
"We cannot afford to buy the netbook and subscribe to the broadband service ourselves. Sometimes, the scholarship money is insufficient. So, this initiative really helps.
"At least, we can save on the scholarship, loan or our own pocket money for something else, in case of emergency, or save it for our practical training which can be costly," he said.
Several lecturers interviewed by Bernama also lauded the initiative and described the netbook and broadband service as a necessity in the modern world.
It would also teach the students to be more responsible as the netbook was not given for free.
Dean of Modern Languages and Communication Faculty at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Prof Madya Dr Che Ibrahim Salleh, said the monthly instalment would also enable the students to be committed.
His view was echoed by his deputy, Prof Madya Dr Abdul Mua'ati alias Zamri Ahmad, who said the instalment was just right.
"If the government offers the netbook package for free, it will not be appreciated. It will end up like some school textbooks that were vandalised or torn because they were free.
"However, when the student has to pay an affordable RM50 monthly, they will take good care of and love the device because they know that it can help them in their studies. So, I think it is a very good move," he said.
Meanwhile, Kolej Universiti Islam Selangor communication department head Nur Aina Nabila Dundai Abdullah said the students really needed such a package to enable them to become more competitive.
"Usually, the students go to cyber cafes to surf the Internet but the time spent to get the information is limited. Thus, with the package, they can get internet access wherever they are," she said. - Bernama
UK wants to enhance relations in education with Malaysia
LONDON: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Britain is interested to discuss ways to enhance relations with Malaysia in education and related issues.
The deputy prime minister, who is also education minister, said this was expressed by Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Gordon Brown during their short discussion before the latter opened the Learning and Technology World Forum 2010 here Monday.
Muhyiddin was the only minister among the 73 ministers attending the forum who was invited by Brown to have a discussion with him before the opening.
The Learning and Technology World Forum 2010 is the world's premier event on learning technologies, attracting national and international leaders from across the globe to share best practice and debate future practice in education and skills.
The forum is led by Becta (the UK government's lead agency on supporting technology in education) on behalf of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and is fully supported by the British Council and a range of partner organisations.
The forum is the largest educational leadership forum in the world covering schools and further and higher education. - Bernama
The deputy prime minister, who is also education minister, said this was expressed by Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Gordon Brown during their short discussion before the latter opened the Learning and Technology World Forum 2010 here Monday.
Muhyiddin was the only minister among the 73 ministers attending the forum who was invited by Brown to have a discussion with him before the opening.
The Learning and Technology World Forum 2010 is the world's premier event on learning technologies, attracting national and international leaders from across the globe to share best practice and debate future practice in education and skills.
The forum is led by Becta (the UK government's lead agency on supporting technology in education) on behalf of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and is fully supported by the British Council and a range of partner organisations.
The forum is the largest educational leadership forum in the world covering schools and further and higher education. - Bernama
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Malaysian Qualifications Agency launches SMS service
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) has launched the short message service mySMS, to allow for easy access to information on the agency.
The service can be accessed through the number 15888.
According a MQA statement, the service enables users to directly download the agency’s forms, guidelines and standards by sending their email address to the number above.
It also said that plans are underway to enable users to lodge complaints and check their accreditation status via SMS.
For more information about the service, go to www.mqa.gov.my or www.mysms.gov.my
Source - The Star
The service can be accessed through the number 15888.
According a MQA statement, the service enables users to directly download the agency’s forms, guidelines and standards by sending their email address to the number above.
It also said that plans are underway to enable users to lodge complaints and check their accreditation status via SMS.
For more information about the service, go to www.mqa.gov.my or www.mysms.gov.my
Source - The Star
Set up polytechnics, private varsities urged
KUALA LUMPUR: Private universities and university colleges have been encouraged to set up their own polytechnics offering engineering and technical programmes for international students.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said these institutions could use their entrepreneurial and creative abilities to develop the programmes.
“They must be willing to take the risk as we have found through our own studies that international students are interested in these programmes,” he said at a press conference during The Star Education Fair at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre yesterday.
Mohamed Khaled said local polytechnics could only cater to Malaysian students.
“More than 120,000 local students apply for around 30,000 places in polytechnics each year,” he said.
This, he added, was a unique opportunity for private providers to capitalise on and the minis-
try was willing to act as a facilitator.
Mohamed Khaled said the Government would look into providing incentives in the Budget for this purpose.
He said the ministry was looking at private universities or university colleges as they were in a better position compared to other colleges, which were smaller.
According to Unesco’s Global Education Digest 2008, approximately 2% of the world’s 2.5 million international students were studying in Malaysia.
Mohamed Khaled said the ministry was confident that its target to have 75,000 international students this year would be met.
According to the ministry’s data, five out of 10 students enquired about highly-specialised technical and engineering courses at the ministry’s overseas expos.
Source - The Star
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said these institutions could use their entrepreneurial and creative abilities to develop the programmes.
“They must be willing to take the risk as we have found through our own studies that international students are interested in these programmes,” he said at a press conference during The Star Education Fair at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre yesterday.
Mohamed Khaled said local polytechnics could only cater to Malaysian students.
“More than 120,000 local students apply for around 30,000 places in polytechnics each year,” he said.
This, he added, was a unique opportunity for private providers to capitalise on and the minis-
try was willing to act as a facilitator.
Mohamed Khaled said the Government would look into providing incentives in the Budget for this purpose.
He said the ministry was looking at private universities or university colleges as they were in a better position compared to other colleges, which were smaller.
According to Unesco’s Global Education Digest 2008, approximately 2% of the world’s 2.5 million international students were studying in Malaysia.
Mohamed Khaled said the ministry was confident that its target to have 75,000 international students this year would be met.
According to the ministry’s data, five out of 10 students enquired about highly-specialised technical and engineering courses at the ministry’s overseas expos.
Source - The Star
The Star Education Fair 2010
KUALA LUMPUR: The Star Education Fair 2010 is bigger and better than any of the previous fairs over the past 22 years.
As the biggest education fair in Malaysia and one of the largest in Asia, it has always been popular with private higher education providers but this year’s response was overwhelming.
All five halls in the KL Convention Centre had to be booked for the first time, as 161 exhibitors took up 510 booths.
A record 46 local and foreign private higher education institutions pledged 398 scholarship awards totalling RM13.836mil.
The fair also received a ringing endorsement when Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin graced the Star Education Fund Presentation of Scholarship Awards and toured the exhibition.
Thanking The Star for its long-standing commitment to higher education, Mohamed Khaled said the fair was instrumental in providing educational outreach.
“An education expo and fund as large as this is very rare and I’m happy that The Star recognises the country’s effort to be a regional education hub,” he said.
“Participating institutions stand to gain a great deal by being able to see themselves in comparison with other providers.
“This will encourage them to improve the quality of service they offer as well as educate the public on the type of degrees and specialisations available in Malaysia,” he added.
Thanking the institutions which pledged scholarships, Mohamed Khaled added that his ministry hoped both the fair and fund would continue to expand.
Also present were Star Publications (M) Bhd group managing director and chief executive officer Datin Linda Ngiam and its executive director, Ng Beng Lye.
“As the leading English daily with a readership of nearly one million, The Star pays very close attention to the development of the nation,” said Ngiam in her opening address.
“We believe that a sound education system is central to our growth of a developed nation. The Star will continue to play its part in promoting the Prime Minister’s goal of developing a creative and innovative nation.”
Ngiam welcomed the five institutions which joined the fund for the first time – International College of Nursing; PSB Academy Pte Ltd, Singapore; Singapore Institute of Management; Swinburne University, Sarawak campus; and The Otomotif College.
The fund also received eight pledges offering full scholarships covering the entire tuition course, accommodation and other incidental costs.
The pledges were from City University College of Science and Technology, International University College of Nursing, Kuala Lumpur Infrastructure University College, Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Stamford College, Sunway University College, The Otomotif College and University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus.
Since its inception in 1994, The Star Education Fund has awarded scholarships to 2,438 students amounting to some RM60mil.
Later, Mohamed Khaled took the opportunity to visit the exhibition booths.
He also stopped at the booth of Red FM, which is a part of The Star Media Group, and agreed to a live interview with Breakfast Show hosts JD and Dilly.
As the biggest education fair in Malaysia and one of the largest in Asia, it has always been popular with private higher education providers but this year’s response was overwhelming.
All five halls in the KL Convention Centre had to be booked for the first time, as 161 exhibitors took up 510 booths.
A record 46 local and foreign private higher education institutions pledged 398 scholarship awards totalling RM13.836mil.
The fair also received a ringing endorsement when Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin graced the Star Education Fund Presentation of Scholarship Awards and toured the exhibition.
Thanking The Star for its long-standing commitment to higher education, Mohamed Khaled said the fair was instrumental in providing educational outreach.
“An education expo and fund as large as this is very rare and I’m happy that The Star recognises the country’s effort to be a regional education hub,” he said.
“Participating institutions stand to gain a great deal by being able to see themselves in comparison with other providers.
“This will encourage them to improve the quality of service they offer as well as educate the public on the type of degrees and specialisations available in Malaysia,” he added.
Thanking the institutions which pledged scholarships, Mohamed Khaled added that his ministry hoped both the fair and fund would continue to expand.
Also present were Star Publications (M) Bhd group managing director and chief executive officer Datin Linda Ngiam and its executive director, Ng Beng Lye.
“As the leading English daily with a readership of nearly one million, The Star pays very close attention to the development of the nation,” said Ngiam in her opening address.
“We believe that a sound education system is central to our growth of a developed nation. The Star will continue to play its part in promoting the Prime Minister’s goal of developing a creative and innovative nation.”
Ngiam welcomed the five institutions which joined the fund for the first time – International College of Nursing; PSB Academy Pte Ltd, Singapore; Singapore Institute of Management; Swinburne University, Sarawak campus; and The Otomotif College.
The fund also received eight pledges offering full scholarships covering the entire tuition course, accommodation and other incidental costs.
The pledges were from City University College of Science and Technology, International University College of Nursing, Kuala Lumpur Infrastructure University College, Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Stamford College, Sunway University College, The Otomotif College and University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus.
Since its inception in 1994, The Star Education Fund has awarded scholarships to 2,438 students amounting to some RM60mil.
Later, Mohamed Khaled took the opportunity to visit the exhibition booths.
He also stopped at the booth of Red FM, which is a part of The Star Media Group, and agreed to a live interview with Breakfast Show hosts JD and Dilly.
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