UTAR works further with Teach For Malaysia

Tun Dr Ling (sitting) backed by (from left) Loh, Dzameer, Prof Chuah, Ong, Datuk Leong and Lim

On 5 October 2013, UTAR Council Chairman Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik announced further collaboration between UTAR and Teach For Malaysia, an independent, not-for-profit organisation with a mission to end education inequity in Malaysia,at UTAR Petaling Jaya Campus.

In June this year Tun Dr Ling offered 10 scholarships to the students of SMK Pulau Ketam in Selangor for them to pursue the foundation programmes at UTAR after SPM.  He also donated RM20,000 to upgrade the school's library.  SMK Pulau Ketam was one of those identified by Teach For Malaysia as a 'high-need' schools.

 

Tun Dr Ling (sitting) chatting with SMK Pulau Ketam students while the school's principal, Law Choon Lee (right), looks on

Following up on the visit to Pulau Ketam, on 21 September 2013, UTAR hosted 44 students, parents, teachers and guests from SMK Pulau Ketam at its main campus in Kampar, Perak. The visitor saw with their own eyes what UTAR could offer them.

Visitors from Pulau Ketam at UTAR Perak Campus

"Money is not a matter.  We are happy to consider more scholarships to be given, and we are ready to raise more funds for it," said Tun Dr Ling at the meeting on 5 October 2013 with Teach For Malaysia Managing Director and Co-Founder Dzameer Dzulkifli and Teach for Malaysia Fellow Loh Ken Ming in his office at UTAR Petaling Jaya Campus, where the press reporters were present.

Also present were UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato' Dr Chuah Hean Teik, UTAR Council member Datuk Leong Tang Chong, UTAR Education Foundation corporate secretary Ong Whee Teong and UTAR Centre of Extension Education Director Lim Guat Yen.

Tun Dr Ling added that the main objective of working with Teach For Malaysia was to reach out to help secondary school students with financial constraints to further their studies.  UTAR would work with Teach For Malaysia to identify these students irrespective of their race and religion from schools in the rural areas.  He hoped to see more organisations would join him in this noble cause.

"We hope that when these students go back to their hometowns [after their studies], they will inspire others.  What we are doing here will not stop here.  Other educational institutions can also contribute," Tun Dr Ling concluded.

"UTAR is the first university to think of such long-term collaboration with us. That is what we are looking for," said Dzameer to the press.

Tun Dr Ling speaking to reporters while Loh and Dzameer look on