Public universities will be adopting cluster schools to enhance continuity within the national education system

Sunday Star, Tan Shiow Chin

Universiti Putra Malaysia Institutional Repository

Public varsitiesto mentorcluster schoolsPlan will boost continuity in education systemTAN SHIOW CHINPUTRAJAYA Public universities will beadopting cluster schools to enhancecontinuity within the national educationsystemAll 20 public universities and 60 clusterschools in the country will be involved in thisprogramme jointly organised by the Educationand Higher Education MinistriesAccording to Education secretary generalTan Sri Dr Zulkurnain Awang the universitiesand schools will be paired up according totheir respective niche areas and geographicalproximityHis Higher Education counterpart Datuk DrZulkefli A Hassan said As our universitiesare located everywhere the distribution isequitable in every stateIf the programme is successful it can evenbe extended to other schools he said addingthat the initiative could include private universities as wellDr Zulkefli said that school students areexpected to gain an increased awareness ofadvanced fields of study like nanotechnology and aerospace engineeringearly exposure to research via jointresearch projects with university lecturersand the usage of university facilities likelibrariesThis programme will also help us identifyand nurture students with strong potentialto fulfil our aim of having about 100 000 PhDholders in 15 years under the MyBrain15programme in the National Higher Education Strategic Plan he saidIn addition Dr Zulkefli hopes that throughthis initiative two important factors in graduate employability command of theEnglish language and entrepreneurial skillscan be addressed and inculcated at an earlier stage»This willhelp usidentifystudentswithpotential tofulfil our aimof 100 000 PhDholders in 15 years«DATUK DR ZULKEFLI A HASSANDr Zulkurnain said that university lecturerscould help enhance both academic and co curricular activities for both school students andteachersThis will not only add value to the schoolsystem but will also increase the awareness oflecturers as to what is going on in schools andfurther enhance their own teaching at the tertiary level1 hope that this can even improve theteaching and learning process because universities produce teachers for secondary schoolshe said adding that through this programmeuniversities will be made aware of the realneeds of schoolsDr Zulkefli said the universities and theschools themselves will decide on the exactnature of the programmesThe programme will be officially launchedby both the respective ministers at the 2008Higher Education Ministry and EducationMinistry Cooperation Seminar at UniversitiPutra Malaysia on Tuesday

Public Varsities To Mentor Cluster Schools - Plan will boost continuity in education system

http://psasir.upm.edu.my/4065/1/20080727_N_SSTAR_NT_pg10_Public_varsities_to.pdf

Public Varsities To Mentor Cluster Schools - Plan will boost continuity in education system

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