AEON IMPROVES LEARNING ENVIRONMENT IN SCHOOLS
Kuching, 2 April 2013
Three schools in Bau, Sarawak received approximately RM430,000 from AEON’s Basic Education Support (BEST) Project to enable the schools to renovate and refurbish to create a conducive learning environment for the students. The selected schools were SK Serabak, SK Pedaun Bawah and SK Tembawang, which received RM124,000, RM124,000 and RM180,000 respectively.
The BEST Project was introduced last year under the ‘With All Our Hearts’ Malaysian AEON Foundation umbrella to provide basic education needs for school children.
“The Foundation has always been proactive in raising funds and providing financial aid that benefits all Malaysians especially the children, and with BEST, we believe that in transforming a child’s education environment, we are able to transform their lives for a better future,” said Dato’ Abdullah Mohd Yusof, President of Malaysian AEON Foundation.
These three pilot schools were selected by the Ministry of Education because they needed help improving their facilities to provide a better learning environment for the students. The project officially kicked off in August last year and it took Malaysian AEON Foundation approximately seven months to complete the renovation and refurbishing.
Besides having good teachers and a proper education program, the learning environment also plays a vital role in improving students’ active participation and the effectiveness of teaching. “A proper learning environment includes the physical condition of the schools such as the arrangement and layout, hygiene, construction and use of learning resources. This is what we plan to achieve with these schools,” added Dato’ Abdullah Mohd Yusof at the handover ceremony at SK Serabak.
The 2-day event kicked off at SK Serabak where by the school officially received a refurbished library with a proper automation system, additional books worth RM11,000, furnishing and equipments such as computers and copier machines.
According to Rijet Niset, the headmaster of SK Serabak, prior to this, the student’s library was located in a shabby room with no air conditioning and no proper tables and chairs.
“Thanks to BEST Project, the new library will now provide a conducive learning environment for students and go a long way to further encourage them to utilize and spend more time in the library,” he said.
On the other hand, both SK Pedaun Bawah and SK Tembawang received refurbished library, canteen, and classrooms, which previously was unable to accommodate all students. The classrooms and canteens were renovated with new lightings, fans, carpeting, furniture and space.
SK Pedaun Bawah was also given a new playground for students to play during their break time. “The previously bare sandy lot is now a fully cemented play area for the students,” said Lee Khoi Jun, the headmaster of SK Pedaun Bawah.
The BEST Project also contributed to building a new multipurpose hall for SK Tembawang which will be completed in May 2013. “We will soon be able to host our weekly activities such as assembly and co-curriculum activities in this new hall. It will be a place where students can gather and explore learning beyond classrooms,” said Madam Dorim, the headmistress of SK Tembawang.
The BEST Project will be a yearly event for Malaysian AEON Foundation. Moving forward, BEST will be looking into schools in Peninsular Malaysia.
