GAB Foundation sharpens students'

English language skills through education initiative

TANJONG MALIM, November 18, 2011 - GAB Foundation today gave recognition to 200 students who graduated from their year-long English programme. The GAB Foundation Graduation Day was held at SJK (T) Tan Sri Dato Manickavasagam and presenting the graduation certificates were Tan Sri Saw Saw Huat Lye, Chairman of GAB Foundation and; Mr Govindasamy, Education Welfare & Research Foundation Malaysia (EWRF) Central Committee  Member and Chairman of the EWRF Tanjong Malim Chapter.

The GAB Foundation English Programme is a collaboration with EWRF and it caters to students in the lower primary. By participating in the programme, the students' progress is being tracked by GAB Foundation to ensure that they are reaping the benefits. This initiative will be extended to the upper primary next year.

The programme, which is in its third year, aims to improve English proficiency levels among primary school students, especially those studying in vernacular schools. The programme essentially provides students with additional English lessons on top of their regular curriculum.  During the lessons, a hands-on approach is taken as students learn to communicate in English through innovative and interactive activities such as role-playing, storytelling and games.

The GAB Foundation English programme's lesson plans are specially designed in accordance with the national school syllabus, by a child development specialist and a lecturer in early childhood development.

Commenting on the Graduation Day, Chairman of GAB Foundation, Tan Sri Saw Huat Lye, said "We want to help raise the level of English language proficiency in the country and we believe that this Programme will empower the students to communicate effectively and fluently in English.

"This is a long-term commitment on our part as mastering a language takes time, and that is why we are supporting these students until they have completed their Year Six studies," he adds.

Krisnavani a/p Velupillai, Headmaster of SJK (T) Tan Sri Dato Manickavasagam, said "We truly appreciate GAB Foundation's initiative to make learning English more accessible to school children. The programme has certainly help improved our students' English skills and they are now more confident to interact in English."

Apart from the specially designed lesson plans, a key highlight of the English Programme is its 'Holiday Camp." The first camp was held last June where children had the opportunity to practise what they have learnt from the programme. Based on a 'Mystery & Detective' theme, the Camp has students working in teams to write reports and present their findings in English as they went about collecting clues and solving puzzles.

To date, the GAB Foundation has contributed more than RM 480,000 towards the English Programme.  To inculcate the reading habit among students, the Foundation has also donated reading corners to schools and learning centres across Malaysia. Moving forward, the Foundation will be extending this English Programme to three primary Chinese schools in Tanjong Malim starting with the Year 1 and 2 students.