'TEACH FOR MALAYSIA' TO RAISE EDUCATIONAL QUALITY

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 24 (Bernama) -- The 'Teach For Malaysia' programme
launched Friday will complement the initiative taken by the government currently
to raise the quality of education in this country, said Deputy Prime Minister i
Muhyiddin Yassin.

Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, said this was because the
programme was closely linked to the policies under the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP)
aimed at developing human capital of quality.

"Although the main focus of the programme is to provide teachers of quality
to primary schools which are performing poorly, the programme is closely linked
to the policies under the 10th Malaysia Plan.

"This effort is the thrust towards innovation and achieving a high-income
economic growth which is the country's main objective currently," he said when
launching the programme, here.

He hoped the programme would attract outstanding graduates to contribute to
the education sector.

The Teach For Malaysia programme is based on the concept of teaching while
serving the country propagated by the global network 'Teach For All', which
gives an opportunity to outstanding graduates to serve the country by joining
the teaching profession after completing their university education.

"I believe that with the talent and knowledge that they possess, outstanding
graduates joining the programme can carry out their tasks as teachers
effectively, and at the same time improve the performance of the students,
especially at the low-performing schools," he said.

Muhyiddin said Malaysia was the first country in South-east Asia and the
third in Asia after India and China to implement this important initiative.

He said the programme had been included into the 10MP and identified as a
programme that was capable of strengthening the quality of the teaching
profession in the country based on the success already achieved in the United
States and the United Kingdom through the 'Teach For America' and 'Teach
First UK'.

The Education Ministry had carried out a preliminary study to gauge the
programme's viability in Malaysia in 2009.

"I look at the programme as a good sign of the strong social involvement of
the country's young generation in tackling educational issues and challenges.

"I believe if our country gives strong support to our young generation in
implementing the programme, we have actually made a smart investment for the
future of our country," he said.

Muhyiddin said the placement of participants of the Teach For Malaysia
programme at the schools with high requirement would begin in Jaunary 2012.

Participation for the programme, which is a collaboration between the
Education Ministry and the Teach For Malaysia Foundation, will open from Jan 11
and selected participants are required to undergo an intensive course for eight
months at the Insitut Aminuddin Baki before being assigned to selected schools
for two years.
-- BERNAMA


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