Buddy-Adik way to reading-writing proficiency

November 22, 2015, Sunday Rintos Mail, features@theborneopost.com

Buddy guiding Adik at SK Tatau.

IF it weren’t for their ‘Study Buddy’ programme, they might still be unable to read now.

Previously, they had problems with reading but today, although they may not have reached a satisfactory level yet, they know how to read — thanks to the Buddy Read With Me Programme from the Dyslexia
Association of Sarawak (DAswk).

“I have improved in my reading. Letter sounds and bottle caps are helpful. I am happy to have joined this programme because it helped me read in English,” said Jerryfer Tevay Awan from SK Long Loyang.

Another participant Jennifer Edik from SK Tatau said not only was her reading better but she could also write now.
“Bottle caps and letters sounds are good. I learned the most through these two methods.”

Ryand Lanying, who also followed the programme, said he could read English now but admitted his writing in English still needed improvement.

“I like the letter sounds method which is easy for me to remember. Bottle caps are interesting too,” said this Adik from SK Batu Keling.

Harisson Natanil Seliman, a former pupil of SK Ba Kelalan, has also benefitted from the letter sounds and bottle caps method.

“I couldn’t read and write until I left school but my reading and writing in English became better when I joined the programme in May this year. The use of letter sounds and bottle caps has helped my reading immensely. I learned a lot through this method and I am glad I took up this programme,” said Natanil who flunked his UPSR because he was weak in reading and writing.

The 14-year-old was brought to Kuching by DASwk president Dr Ong Puay Hoon after she discovered Natanil’s disability. Subsequently, Ong sent Natanil for special education class at SMK Tabuan Jaya State Sports School every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and for the intensive reading intervention programme in maths, English and Bahasa Malaysia on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Before coming to Kuching, Natanil could not even do his alphabets properly, let alone spell and read.

Buddy guiding Adik at SK Batu Keling.

Buddy and Adik benefit

The Buddy Read with Me Programme benefits not only the Buddy but the Adik as well.

Buddy Geovanni Julan from SK Batu Keling said he has improved in his reading and writing skills, adding that the letter sounds and bottle caps were easy to follow and understand.

“I’m so happy I joined the programme because it has enabled to teach an Adik who needed help l like I once did.”

Vivien Junior from SK Long Loyang enthused: “My English has improved since I became a Buddy. I now know how to say and write a long word. Learning through letter sounds and bottle caps was really good. I not only learned to read English words correctly but also helped to teach the Adik.”

Rundy Batok Batang from SK Batu Keling concurred, saying the programme not only taught him to read and write but exposed him some to teaching experience as well.

“My Adik can read now. I find the experience very rewarding,” he added.

Another Buddy Irmynna Marcela from SK Tatau has also improved her reading and writing in English since joining the programme.

She credited the use of letter sounds and bottle caps for her progress.

Pairing of students
The Buddy Read With Me Programme pairs older students with younger ones in reading activities. The idea is to provide one-on-one guidance to help the latter improve their reading and comprehension abilities, their vocabulary and overall command of English.

Teacher-facilitators have also found the programme effective in helping students with writing and reading disabilities.

According to Mohd Muizzudin Mohdzain from SK Tatau, the programme not only helps to improve the Buddy’s reading proficiency but also the Adik’s grasp of both reading and writing.

“The use of bottle caps and sound letters is really useful. For one, it helps to speed up the learning process,” he said, noting that activities such as solving puzzles were also good as they prevented the students from feeling bored.

According to Enggan Embi, a teacher at SK Long Loyang, the use of letter sounds is both practical and beneficial.

“As an English teacher, I find it is easy for pupils to understand more by using bottle caps,” he said.

He hoped the programme would continue and teachers would apply this method in teaching weak pupils.

Enggan, who is also the school’s senior assistant (pupil affairs), believed the programme is appropriate, especially for students in rural schools to improve their English.

He said as facilitators, teachers could also gain more knowledge in teaching English from the programme.

“SK Long Loyang is so fortunate to have been selected for the programme. The English used is simple and basic. The presentation techniques used by DASwk are very interesting. The students can understand them quite easily.”

Enggan said overall, the programme has kept the students interested in learning and improving their English.

Progressive test for Adiks.

Fun way of learning
Azimah Abdul Rahman from SK Batu Keling also praised the programme, saying it helped weak students learn English in a fun way.

“The use of letter sounds is interesting. It helps the students to remember the sounds of letters. Using bottle caps is creative as it can keep students interested in learning English,” she added.

According to Chin Hui Chiat from SK Ba Kelalan, the programme uses different techniques to help weak pupils with reading.

“Letter sounds give students a basis for reading and writing, especially in spelling words. Bottle caps encourage students who are weak to start reading as it involves phonetic reading.

“The programme is an eye-opener. Although schools have been teaching phonetics in class, this programme has given me the motivation to work further with the students’ reading skills,” Chin said.

School administrators are grateful to DASwk for selecting their schools for the programme.

SK Tatau headmaster Janudin Abdul Rahman thanked Ong, the DASwk staff and the State Education Department for choosing his school, saying the programme had proven successful in helping students weak in English to improve in reading and writing the language.

“On top of that, it helps the Buddies to teach their Adiks with confidence.”

Janudin said his school would extend the programme to all its pre-school teachers and Literacy and Numeracy Screening (Linus) teachers.

He revealed the school was also planning to organise a special workshop with DASwk, parents and children involved in Linus.

Head of the programme Wallace Lee said he was proud of the team for coming up with a workable, cost-effective and structured educational programme in English not only for dyslexics but also all children with learning difficulties.

He said witnessing the programme evolve from infancy in the MIUSA Empowerment Programme to the present Buddy Programme had been very exciting.

“Now we have a good and effective teaching and learning method for children with problems reading, spelling and comprehending.

“We like to thank the US State Department and the US Embassy Kuala Lumpur for their on-going support and assistance in the development of this programme.”

Lee said the programme’s continuity and constant development would ensure children receive the best learning method.

“The best present for a child is literacy and what better way to provide this gift than through an easy and proven programme developed to suit us. I would like to thank the trainers, teachers and participants undertaking this programme which has seen so much improvement over the duration of the programme,” he said.

Training session at SK Long Loyang.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/11/22/buddy-adik-way-to-reading-writing-proficiency/#ixzz3sMkDj0Pq

Understanding the Chinese psyche and learning from it

November 22, 2015, Sunday Thomas Ong, thomasongadv@yahoo.com

After the general election of 2013, and the annihilation of MCA and SUPP and other government Chinese parties, the Malay newspaper Utusan Malaysia infamously shouted in the headlines, “ApaLagi Cina Mahu?”

After a marriage of over 50 years between UMNO, MCA and MIC, it was obvious that the shout was one of absolute oblivion to the marriage relationship and total ignorance of the marriage partner. Otherwise, it was a groom that did not bother to understand his bride, and started shouting that he had been hard done by only when someone wooed her away!

So out comes the knife against the Chinese. “Lack of loyalty,” these and an assortment of allegations that can only be regarded as racism were spewed.

However, the Chinese psyche is a simple one.

When I was young after each school term we would visit out grandparents and our uncles. The questions would be asked, “How did you do in your exam?” And if we did well twenty sen or fifty sen would be the reward. The instruction from grandparents would be, “This is for your future, when you go for higher education” or “For the future rainy days.”

Hard work has been second nature to us. We do not expect handouts and we can work ourselves out in the system. Challenges and roadblocks are part of life’s lesson.

This is just ingrained into the Chinese psyche.

So after the education period of our lives, the Chinese would embark on protecting himself and to avoid the “future rainy days.” He would start his accumulation of wealth with that objective. A Foochow friend once told me that others may admire the multimillionaire timber tycoons, but they live with the phobia of going back to their childhood days of abject poverty and they continue their work with dogged determination to avoid that.

The Chinese are made up of a number of dialectic groups and each dialectic group has its own association. Each association then goes about providing education assistance, solving the problems of their group through scholarships and aids.

In Kuching for example, the Teochews set up Kuching High School. The Hakka lease their land out for the operation of Chung Hua Primary No.4. During the days of the Rajah, and the British Colonial era, they went to the missionary schools in droves.

Chinese philanthropists bequeath to the schools and other dialectic associations. Wawasan Open University of Penang and lately Sunway are beneficiary of this sense of duty  to give back to their society.

Jeffrey Cheah, the philanthropist behind the Sunway Group famously said, I aspire to inspire before I expire.” Other philanthropists set up their own foundation to give out scholarships for needy students.

So long as you leave them to their business and their education, the Chinese are not very interested in politics.

Even if you look at the Sarawak Chinese political parties, their focus is generally on education. The Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP)   versus United People’s Party( UPP) fight is an example.

SUPP president Senator Sim Kui Hian works towards the recognition of the Chinese UEC exam by the Yayasan Sarawak, State Government and ultimately by the Federal Government while his UPP counterpart Dato Seri Wong Soon Koh  goes about soliciting for funds from the corporate sector, of up RM50 million to be distributed toschools and society.

It is interesting to note that the tussle between the Dayak based  parties Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP)  and Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras), there is no such movement to woo the members and public with education. Education does not have such a central role in their societies. Then there is the understanding of powers. The Chinese, although respectful of authorities, demands results. If you are a representative of the Chinese then you are expected to carry that responsibility. It is your responsibility to bring up issues of Chinese problems to the powers that be.

If you do not carry out your responsibilities or are perceived not to be carrying it out, then you will be tossed out. You are there for the community.  Even the late SUPP stalwarts Stephen Yong and Ong Kee Hui had faced the wrath of the electorates in their times.

The Chinese civilization has been urban based for so many centuries so their instinct for survival in the modern setting comes as second nature. All these social dynamics are working towards pushing their society forward.

We must not forget that many of our fellow Malaysians of other races were dwelling in kampungs or in longhouses not more than three, four decades ago. So they have to grasp the intricacies of living the urban lives. Time is not a strong factor in the kampong so this is translated in their urban lifestyle. Similarly, they do not have to plan very far ahead, so live a day at a time.

Plus the fact that many of them suffer from the lack of or the delivery of a proper education in the kampungs it is not surprising that they suffer in the urban area where education is crucial for sustenance.

Thus, what the government should do is to push these other communities of society to learn and follow what the Chinese have done, with some modifications.

Till recently there has been so much reliance on government to help, the Malay, Iban and Bidayuh societies. Subsidies and handouts were the order of the day. Their society did not have the self-help mechanism, perhaps because they have to start from ground zero.

Now, their communities with their graduates must then start-up funds to put into their own society and work on the restructuring of their social behavior.

Thus, the launch of the Yayasan John Jinep (John Jinep Foundation) with fanfare is an encouraging sign for the Bidayuh society. The stated objective is to provide education assistance for the Bidayuh. It is hoped that they will extend to vocational training especially in the agricultural areas where they are still living in large numbers.

The earlier established Tun Jugah Foundation however, seems to be more towards the preservation of the Iban culture.

In West Malaysia the more well-known Malay charity is the Albukhary Foundation. Its website boasts itself having assisted 1,022 poor Malaysians to go for the Haj, given 1,477 students in over 50 countries  scholarships and setting up 200 tuition centres.

Like the Chinese community, these other races must start to share in and contribute to society. The haves must start raising the have-nots. The Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association must step up to the plate. Slowly, they will have to become role models for the younger generations to follow.

The Malaysian Chinese society has plenty of role models. The earlier generations had Wee Boon Ping and Wee Hood Teck in the business circles. The Marina Chins, Foo Kok Keongs, Poon Fook Lokes  and the Soh Chin Auns in sports triggered the imagination of the 70s, 80s and 90s generation.

Being the confident society that they are, the Chinese are not cowered to take role models from other society as well. Tony Fernandez would be a role model for many aspiring Chinese business especially for his creativity. They are not afraid to learn.

The Malay, Iban and Bidayuh leaders also have to fire up the imagination of their respective communities to push their young ones along. Are we getting enough mileage from the successes of Pandalela for her race and her community? We do not hear her giving leadership or motivation talks in school or in the business circle. After the euphoria of her Olympics dive, and after feting her for her achievements, perhaps she should be recruited to stimulate her community.

Bumiputera leaders should also start a savings campaign to encourage savings for the rainy days and looking at life in the longer term, not just living for the day.

However, we are only at the beginnings of exciting times. The launching of the Yayasan John Jinep should only be scratching the surface. The Iban socialites and well-to-do should now be challenged to set up their own foundations as well as those Malay millionaires set up foundations to assist the Malays. This can only spurt local development in society.

Remember, it is more blessed to give than to receive!
Write Straight, Write Sharp!

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/11/22/understanding-the-chinese-psyche-and-learning-from-it/#ixzz3sMiTWy8k

We don’t want to be recipients of such inconsistent policies any more’

By:
Dennis Wong

Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem says inconsistencies in the education policy have caused the state dearly over the years. - Bernama pic

Adjust Font Size:

KUCHING, Nov 13, 2015:

Sarawak wants to play a bigger role in deciding on the education policy.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem said inconsistencies had caused the state dearly over the years and it was high time for the state to have a say when new policies are set.

“The flip flop policies in our education has led to poor proficiency in English. Raising Bahasa Malaysia (BM) at the expense of English rather than being proficient in both languages.”

“We don’t want to be recipient of such inconsistent policies any more, where it keeps on changing from English to BM then back to English again, so what would it be next, Tamil?” asked Adenan, referring to the inconsistency in the medium used to teach Mathematics and Science subjects in school.

The drop in English proficiency of graduates was a cause for concern in the state as it faced challenges in its industrialisation quest, he added.

 Education is one of the areas which the state wants to have control over, under the devolution of powers talk with the federal government.

Among the issues which are yet to be cleared is the state’s recognition of the Independent Chinese school qualification, the Unified Examination Certificate. 

Adenan said he would clear the confusion regarding the matter at the coming State Legislative Assembly this December.

The state had called for UEC qualifications to be recognised to address the brain drain in the state, but the Higher Education Ministry said the qualification did not fulfil the basic requirements of public university placements.

Though the state has recognised UEC in its civil service and state-owned private universities, the tussle for recognition by the federal government is still on going.

Another issue that cropped up recently in the state was when the Education Ministry appointed a Kelantanese Ustaz as a principal in SMK Paoh, a predominantly Dayak school in Sarikei.

Adenan said the state would step in if it was in its interest to do so.

“Let us study this case further before making any remarks further,” said Adenan after officiating the 2015 Sarawak Foundation Chief Minister’s Special Awards held here.

Adenan: S’wak wants some say in national education policy

November 13, 2015

Chief Minister also says he does not want Sarawak to have a flip-flop system where the education policy changes every year.

KUCHING: Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem today reiterated that Sarawak wanted to have some say in the country’s education policy.

“We don’t want to be just the recipient of our education policy because the consequences will be on us.”

Adenan said this at the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Special Awards presentation and launch of the Hippers Programme of Yayasan Sarawak, here, today.

“We also don’t want to have what is called a flip-flop system, whereby the policy changes every year,” he added, referring to the usage of English and Bahasa Melayu in the teaching of science and mathematics in schools.

“We don’t want a situation where this year, we use the English language and next year, we go back to Bahasa Melayu. There needs to be consistency so that it would not confuse the students and parents.”

Adenan opined that the reason there were so many unemployed graduates in Malaysia was their non-proficiency in the English language.

He also said that Sarawak would now be focusing on its technical skills programme to equip students with the necessary skills required by the industrial sector.

“In the 21st century, technical education is getting more and more important. If we are going to industrialise, we need people with technical skills, not academic skills. We have to follow the current trend, otherwise we will be left behind,” he said.

On the acceptance of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) holders into university, the Chief Minister said he would address the misunderstanding at the coming state assembly sitting.

He said Sarawak wanted to recognise the UEC because there were Bumiputera students studying in Chinese schools.

“There are some Chinese schools where the board members are all Chinese but 80 per cent of the students are Bumiputeras.

“In these schools, English and Bahasa Malaysia are also taught to their students,” he added.

On the lack of educational facilities in Sarawak, especially in rural schools, Adenan urged Yayasan Sarawak of which he is the chairman, to expand its hippers programme to more rural schools, so that they could enjoy facilities that were on par with *those in urban areas.
— BERNAMA

Tweets 24/11/2015

Tweets 24/11/2015

又是审查季节，又是‘买贵了/付多了’。教育部又超支n亿多了。这些拨款是如何被挥霍掉了，我们希望有关当位有一套像中国[除贪]。所采取的解决方案是使个个官爷[不敢贪，不要贪和不合贪]。解决[买贵了] 的问题就是把多余的数目通通还回，就是这么简单。 超支n亿多，嘿嘿。。。。

我们Sibu 和Kapit，Sarawak，Borneo，各华小，据报道(诗华日报22讯)还未收到拖欠的拨款，这是怎么一回事啊！我们只好抬头问Allah向他祈求帮忙。 每次拖欠惯了，308后，人民大小都紧紧追讨，这还是第一回。这我猜也是他们意料之外的事。钱是否早就分赃[吞了]。这一点也不奇怪。我希望我们人民领袖随时准备提控。

SRB calls for special taskforce in charge of wharf facilities

November 21, 2015, Saturday Peter Boon, reporters@theborneopost.com

Share this:

• 
  
• Facebook Share
• 
  
• 
  
• Email
• 
  

A section of a ramp is barely passable due to the damage.

SIBU: There is a proposal for the setup of a special taskforce to look after wharf facilities here.

Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) member Chieng Buong Toon believes that such structure should serve as an avenue for local boat operators to voice out suggestions, complaints or issues.

“I will raise the proposal in SRB meeting in Kuching on Nov 26,” he said yesterday, adding that the proposed committee would look after the facilities at the Tua Pek Kong and Kapit wharf here.

On Monday night, four ramps used for cargo operations at Tua Pek Kong Wharf were damaged due to the impact of a drifted barge. The following day, the first pontoon from downstream took in water and sank following days of downpour, coupled with high tide.

On this, Chieng remarked: “I think the setup of this special taskforce is most ideal as it is very helpful towards running day-to-day operations at these wharfs. It will also help to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

“Also through the proposed committee, boat operators can come and see us directly, from which we can forward their concerns to SRB headquarters.

“At the very least, they would have a platform to channel their concerns, feedback or even complaints.

“In fact, this will allow for regular meetings slated for ironing out any issue rather than (only take action) when an incident has happened.

“As of now, they don’t have such avenue,” he told reporters after inspecting the damaged ramps.

Asked if he was confident about the realisation of the proposed taskforce, he said: “I think they (SRB) should (set it up).”

On the damaged ramps, Chieng said he received a call on Thursday about the matter and after the inspection yesterday, he verified that the situation was quite serious not only because it was causing inconvenience to
the operators, but also it was posing danger to those handling loading and uploading activities there.

“This warrants immediate attention. As far as I know, the SRB here has informed the Kuching office about the matter.

“I understand that there is an allocation for SRB under the 11MP (11th Malaysia Plan) to carry out upgrading works on wharfs in Sarawak.
 However, this will take time.

“Still, I think we must do something; otherwise, it is inconvenient and can be very dangerous. I will call (SRB) Kuching to relay my suggestion and also on boat operators to do immediate repairs.”

On the submerged pontoon at Kapit Wharf along Khoo Peng Loong Road here, Chieng disclosed that the Wednesday incident was not the first time *******– it had happened several times this year.

This, he added, spoke volumes on the need for a special taskforce to handle such a situation, in that boats remained a vital means of public transportation here, despite having many areas that could be accessed via roads.

Meanwhile, SRB controller William Jinep told The Borneo Post that the board was calling for quotations with regard to repair works on the ramps and safety railings.

He also mentioned that SRB was requesting for funds to upgrade all the pontoons here, in Sarikei and Bintangor.

The inspection yesterday was also joined by Sarawak Express Boats Association Third, Sixth and Seventh Divisions chairman Lau Hieng Choon.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/11/21/srb-calls-for-special-taskforce-in-charge-of-wharf-facilities/#ixzz3sIKbzesG

My comments:
With this additional article, I believe the whole world will have the clear picture of what has happened here in Sibu, Sarawak, Borneo.

巫浮箱码头损坏 河川局派员维修

从码头向浮箱延伸的木桥通道，桥板松脱凸起。肩挑货物的搬运工友小心奕奕过桥。

 （本报诗巫22日讯）砂河川局派执法队伍在大伯公庙前货运浮箱码头执勤，管制损坏木桥的使用情况，确保使用者的安全。

该浮箱码头延伸衔接岸边的木板桥于本月1 6日晚上，遭漂浮物撞击而损坏。这三座木板桥受不同程度的损坏，其中一座木板桥的桥身已经断架而沉入水中。

砂河川局局长威廉吉尼受询时指出，确保安全是该局首要任务，而且为此任务设立“安全第一，执法现下”的信条。

“因此，我们除了看管设备，也包括设备的维修。”

另一方面，询及设立专属委员会管理邱炳农路和大伯公庙的浮箱码头设备时，他表示，河川局设有任务组别，而组别成员履行全天候监管。
局长和助理局长皆是该组别的成员。

全天候监督安全
针对在大伯公庙前的货运浮箱码头的木板桥受损的事件，威廉吉尼说，此事故于夜晚时段发生，而他获悉后逐指示副手安排维修工作。

他也说，气候恶劣及潮水高涨时段，河川局的监管作业更为慎密。

“天气突变，以及潮水高涨等自然条件变化，非我们所能控制的。”

对于邱炳农路前的一个浮箱码头下沉的情况，威廉吉尼又说，一旦水位回复至正常状况，将会逐步打捞工作。

由于今天是周末， 卸货工作暂停，浮箱码头邻近寂静，损坏程度最为严重的木板桥，面对江水的水位高，更趋明显，再加上水流湍急，使到陈旧简陋的浮箱码头负荷力更重。

My comments：
如果，你们有看到[诗华日报] 全面图片的报道。 你们会同意我的看法，Bakun 水坝会是我们下游地区人的恶梦。  这是开始。  我不能确定有关当局，有做足多少% 的安全措施。 我是100%肯定这水坝的工程是有让很多大小官部长先生们从中捞取n%的佣金。 如果没有请站出来，发誓说100%没有这一回事。

这个码头被上游的激流冲击的东歪西倒南倾北斜。 不信的话查看。  我无法找到全版面图片报道。据报道才修过大概一年又出事了。  这是Bakun 水坝之前，不曾有的事。  这种情形，请相信我，不会是最后一次。  是否会发生更严重的恶果，有人可以保证吗？ 

除了一小撮的人获利外，人民早面对一次又一次又一次水坝的肆虐，未来还有很多未知数。  这，这么大的水坝是否会是我们人民的诅咒。 我们的[好高，好大，好长，好胜，好贪，好虚荣，好。。。。]的官爷们真的是我们的无限的灾难。