UTAR-ECM Libra Foundation Tuition Programme

Following the success of the past UTAR-ECM Libra Foundation Tuition Programmes, UTAR once again collaborated with ECM Libra Foundation for the fourth consecutive year to organise a series of comprehensive English, Bahasa Malaysia and IT Tuition Programme for selected primary schools in Kampar, Gopeng, Tronoh Mines and Batu Gajah, namely SJK (C) Jeram, SJK (C) Bemban, SJK (C) Lawan Kuda Baru, SJK (C) Thung Hon and SJK (C) Sin Min.

Jointly conducted since March 2017 by UTAR Department of Soft Skills Competency (DSSC), Faculty of Arts and Social Science (FAS), Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FICT) and Faculty of Science (FSc), the tuition programmes ended with a closing ceremony at UTAR Kampar Campus on 18 November 2017.

Prof Choong thanking ECM Libra Foundation, instructors and student volunteers for their spirit of volunteerism

Lim emphasising the importance of mastering English language

The five schools were selected from the UTAR New Village Community Project. The programme was aimed to heighten the school students’ English and Malay Language and IT proficiency as well as to strengthen their understanding of the subjects. In addition to that, the programme was also used as a stage to prepare the school students prior to UPSR and their school final term examinations. 

From right: Headmistress of SJK (C) Tronoh Mines Chew Sum Mooi presenting a token of appreciation to Lim and Prof Choong

Invited to grace the closing ceremony were Trustee of ECM Libra Foundation Lim Beng Choon, UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, FICT Deputy Dean for R&D and Postgraduate Programmes Prof Dr Leung Kar Hang representing FICT Dean Assoc Prof Dr Liew Soung Yue, DSSC Kampar Head Hew Chwen Yee, headmasters and headmistresses of schools, representatives of schools, UTAR student volunteers and staff, school students and parents.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prof Choong said, “UTAR as a not-for-profit university, established for the people and by the people, strives to provide educational opportunities for deserving students in the country. Education can transform the lives of youths and broaden their horizons to build a brighter and better tomorrow. In line with that, UTAR-ECM Libra Foundation English, Bahasa Malaysia and IT Tuition Programme is an excellent and creative way to nurture young learners and UTAR students to progress further.”

Prof Choong lauded the passion shown by all the instructors and student volunteers as well as the efforts in nurturing a bond between themselves and the school students. He said, “I would like to thank DSSC, FAS, FICT, FSC and all the UTAR student volunteers for conducting these valuable programmes which offer an intensive learning opportunity to the primary school students. I hope you will continue to give your strong support towards volunteerism and make a positive difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate. ECM Libra Foundation and UTAR should continue with this programme in order to benefit more children from more villages.”

Inspiring the school students, Lim enthused, “Education is an important component which will help to ensure sustainable societal development. Therefore, it is ECM Libra Foundation’s goal to help students in need to receive a quality education.” He added, “We offer grants to institutions and schools as well as interest-free loans to deserving students to pursue tertiary education. Besides, we also provide various projects to needy schoolchildren through tuition, remedial and non-academic programmes.”

Lim also highlighted on the importance of English by explaining that, “The purpose ECM Libra Foundation constantly provides English tuition programme to schoolchildren from new villages is to create awareness in the community and the parents that learning English can help the children to learn through more channels and sources. Grasping English can also be a huge benefit to help the children grow greater communication ability, in addition to accessing wider sources of information. I would like to encourage the school students to take full advantage of the programme and embrace English to be a global leader in future.”

J. Sonisha, a Year Three English Education student volunteer said, “Among the reasons why I joined this programme were to gain more experience in the art of teaching, to develop the spirit of volunteerism and to put into practice the theories of teaching and learning among the young schoolchildren. UTAR-ECM Libra Foundation Tuition Programme is a good platform for student volunteers to learn and practice in the real working environment even before we graduate as an educator.”

She added, “The programme helped me to understand different types of behaviours of children and it was very helpful in becoming effective in guiding and nurturing them. In addition to that, the programme also served as a learning platform for me in understanding the skills of class management. This programme should be continued in order to help more students to learn and receive proper guidance from educators. Therefore, I would like to advise more English Education students to join this programme in order to help the students as well as to encounter the real-life situation that a teacher may face instead of depending only on the teaching papers in the course structure.”

 A Malay poem recital by the students from SJK (C) Jeram

Students from SJK (C) Jeram performing the song “We are the World”

SJK (C) Jeram students Christopher Liong Zi Xuan and Chai Xian Yao  said, “We would like to thank all the UTAR teachers, staff and students for helping to make this event possible. We know all of you have put a lot of effort in this and we thank you. On behalf of the children from my school and other schools, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to ECM Libra Foundation and UTAR for giving us this wonderful opportunity to join this tuition programme to learn English, Bahasa Malaysia and ICT knowledge.”

They added, “A big thank you to all the UTAR teachers, big brothers and sisters for your dedication to come to the schools on weekend to conduct lessons for us. We have been joining this programme since the year 2015. Looking back at the time we spent together, we have wonderful memories learning English, performing, dancing and singing, going to UTAR Campus and many other fun activities that we did together.”

A singing performance by the students from SJK (C) Bemban

Another mind-blowing singing performance by SJK (C) Lawan Kuda Baru

The English and Bahasa Malaysia Tuition programmes focused primarily on the teaching of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills to the school students. Apart from indoor learning, the students also engaged in interactive activities such as storytelling, grammar lessons, English language-related games, reading aloud, and singing action songs to stimulate students’ interest in English and Bahasa Malaysia.

Meanwhile, the components of the IT Tuition programme involved indoor class training on some basic programming and animation skills. Both English and IT classes were conceptualised as an educational yet enjoyable platform to encourage students to be dynamic, creative and innovative. Guided by the instructors and UTAR student volunteers from various faculties, the school students had a whale of a time with exciting language and IT classes. 

SJK (C) Thung Hon performing a read-aloud short story

A choral speaking performance by SJK (C) Sin Min students

At the closing ceremony, schoolchildren from Standard One to Standard Six showcased their language ability through performances such as poem recitals and singing English songs and Malay poem. The closing ceremony ended with Lim presenting prizes to school students who had performed well in the final assessment as well as those who had shown great improvement in the programme. 

Joyful prize recipients posing for a group photo