E-book reader to be exported

KUALA TERENGGANU: The e-book reader introduced by Terengganu Government will be exported overseas, with 200 sample units already sent to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Indonesia, Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said on Monday.

“The e-book reader we sent to the UAE uses Arabic while Indonesia will order 50,000 units as a start if they find it as practical,” he said when presenting the readers to 1,088 Year Five pupils from 12 schools in the Tepoh state constituency at the Gong Badak indoor stadium complex, here.

Ahmad said 50,000 e-book readers would be distributed to pupils in Year Three and Four in Terengganu with an allocation to be approved by the state assembly next month. — Bernama

Full concentration: Year Five pupil Wan Ikhmal Syahmi from Sekolah Kebangsaan Gong Badak, Kuala Terengganu using the e-book.

Pupils caught downloading smut

KUALA TERENGGANU: A group of pupils from a primary school in Gong Badak here have been caught misusing electronic textbooks (e-books) to download and store pornographic material.

They would access such materials, store them at home and bring them to school where the group would view them together.

Twelve pupils from Year Five and Six were caught in possession of smut videos and pictures during a spot check by the school’s disciplinary teachers and prefects.

It is learnt the school will expel the pupils for violating the guidelines of the e-book scheme and for having lewd materials.

The e-books, a replacement for heavy schoolbags, were incorporated with standard and additional primary syllabuses.

Terengganu was the first state in the country to introduce the scheme in June.

Besides pornography, the pupils also used the e-books to access YouTube and download photographs of actresses.

State Education, Higher Learning, Science, Technology and Human Resource Committee chairman Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman acknowledged that the pupils were caught with such materials, but declined to name the school.

The state government has issued a directive to schools to initiate disciplinary action against those found to have violated the guidelines.

“We consider it a serious offence to download indecent materials and it is now up to the school authorities to initiate appropriate action, including expelling them,” he said yesterday.

He said those caught blamed their elder siblings for downloading the smut but the excuse was unacceptable as the laptops were entrusted to the pupils.

He said some of the schools in the state had also begun to ensure that their pupils refrain from browsing undesirable websites by making their parents stand as sureties.

With this, the school authorities can seize the e-books, seek compensation and initiate severe disciplinary action if the children are found to have defied the guidelines, he added. - The Star

Police Let Schools To Act In Schoolgirls Brawl

KUALA TERENGGANU, July 15 (Bernama) -- The police will leave it to the schools to act against the schoolgirls who were involved in a brawl at a surau in Kampung Ketengah Jaya, Dungun, last month, Terengganu CID chief ACP Mohd Fauzi Abduri said Wednesday.

The police had taken statements from the six schoolgirls, the principals and the discipline teachers of two secondary schools, and the investigation was going on, he told reporters after attending the monthly assembly of the Terengganu police contingent, here.

In the incident on June 18, several senior students forced two Form One students to wrestle and assaulted them as they were jealous of the attention these smart girls received from the teachers.

One of the victims lodged a report at the Kuala Terengganu police station three days later after finding out that a video recording of the fight had been circulated on the Internet.

Newspaper reports yesterday quoted Director-General of Education Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom as saying two students who were the "directors" in the recording of the video had been expelled from school.

The victim who lodged the report was suspended from school for three days and the other victim was suspended for two weeks.

-- BERNAMA

MARA Collects More In Loan Repayments

KUALA TERENGGANU, July 15 (Bernama) -- Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) collected about RM35 million in loan repayments per month from entrepreneurs between January and June this year, Mara deputy director-general Datuk Osman Ahmad said Wednesday.

He said the amount was an encouraging increase compared to the RM25 million to RM30 million collected per month for the corresponding period last year.

"The collection shows that many entrepreneurs are committed to paying back their loans, thus the money can be used to help other entrepreneurs," he told reporters after officiating at the 2009 Megasale Carnival at Shahbandar Square, here.

He said Mara had given out loans to almost 33,000 entrepreneurs nationwide, which involved an allocation of RM1.5 billion under the ongoing Ninth Malaysia Plan.

More than 100 entrepreneurs from all over the country participated in the five-day carnival.

-- BERNAMA

Statements Recorded From Six Involved In Fight

KUALA TERENGGANU, July 14 (Bernama) -- The police have recorded statements from six schoolgirls, including two victims, who were involved in a brawl at a surau in Kampung Ketengah Jaya, Dungun last month.

State CID chief ACP Mohd Fauzi Abduri said Tuesday, the students, four of whom had allegedly orchestrated the incident, were from two secondary schools in Dungun.

He said the police would also obtain statements from the principal and discipline teacher of both schools.

In the incident at the surau in Kampung Ketengah Jaya on June 18, several senior students were involved in a fight as they were jealous of the attention two schoolgirls were receiving from the teachers.

One of the victims filed a report at the Kuala Terengganu police station, two days ago, after finding out that a video of the fight was circulated on the internet.

Meanwhile, local dailies today quoted Education Director-General Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom as saying that two students who 'directed' the video were dismissed from school.

-- BERNAMA

Report lodged after sister finds YouTube video of attack on schoolgirl

KUALA TERENGGANU: A 13-year-old girl has lodged a police report saying she was attacked by a friend jealous of her good looks.

The girl was allegedly scratched on her face by the friend at the compound of a surau in Ketengah Jaya, Dungun, at 2.30pm on June 18. A classmate recorded the fight on her handphone.

The video recording was later uploaded onto the popular file-sharing website YouTube under the title Gadis Dungun dipukul oleh kawan karib (Dungun lass beaten by close friend) recently.

It is learnt that Azani Juasharmiela Mohd Jaaffar’s best friend scratched her face with her fingernails because she was unhappy over the compliments that Azani Juasharmiela had been getting.

Ironically, it was Azani Juashar-miela’s 23-year-old sister who discovered the video while surfing the Internet at her hometown in Dungun on Saturday.

Azani Juhaiza, who works as a clerk in Kuala Lumpur, was shocked to see Azani Juasharmiela in the video on YouTube.

“I was shocked to see my youngest sister being bashed up by her friend. I immediately showed her the video and she admitted to having been in a fight with her best friend,” she said when met at the Kuala Terengganu police headquarters yesterday.

The Form One student told her sister that a fellow 13-year-old studying at a nearby school was jealous over the numerous compliments that she had been receiving for her looks.

Both sisters went to the district police headquarters here to lodge a police report.

Dungun police chief Supt Dahlan Mohd Nor said the other girl in the video would be summoned to help in the investigation.

Pupils in trouble for storing MJ’s hits

KUALA TERENGGANU: In death, Michael Jackson can still spell trouble. In Terengganu, Year Five pupils are set to face the music for downloading the King of Pop’s hits into their state-sponsored digital notebooks or e-books. And in Penang, pirates who tried to hawk his songs have been hit hard by the cops.

Five pupils in Terengganu had stored Jackson’s hits like Man In The Mirror, Beat It and Billie Jean in e-books which was discovered during a spot check by disciplinary teachers at several schools here.

Two of the e-books also had video clips of the star.

Jackson’s song have been highly sought after following his death on June 25. Some 12,800 Year Five pupils in Terengganu have been allocated e-books since May to be used in classes. State Education, Higher Learning, Science, Technology and Human Resources committee chairman Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman said the five pupils were let off with a warning from their principals.

He said the state would not tolerate the offence and was working out a way to punish those who break the rules. “We will probably confiscate their e-books,” he said.

In George Town, hundreds of copies of CDs and DVDs playing Jackson’s greatest songs and MTV musical hits were seized in a police raid at a shop in Prangin Mall on Wednesday.

Each CD and DVD was priced at between RM6 and RM8.

State Commercial Crimes Depart-ment spokesman Supt Ravindar Singh said it was wrong for the peddlers to cash in on the celebrity’s death.

“We believe the pirated disc sellers have been burning more CDs and DVDs to keep up with consumer demand after Jackson’s death,” he said when contacted.

During the 2pm raid, a seven-member police team led by State Commercial Crimes Department chief Asst Comm Roslee Chik seized more than 7,500 pirated discs, including 1,100 copies of pornographic VCDs/DVDs from the shop.

Police also arrested a 36-year-old caretaker who claimed he had just started working at the shop 10 days ago.

No e-books if you download music

KUALA TERENGGANU: The state government will not hesitate to repossess the e-book computers of students found misusing them.

The stern warning came from state Education, Higher Learning, Science, Technology and Human Resources Committee chairman Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman following five reports of students downloading songs as well as unsavoury material to their computer notebooks.

Ahmad said teachers and executive information officers (EIOs) would monitor the students. EIOs are responsible for problems related to the e-books.

The state, he said, would withhold the laptops from the students for a specific period and would look into methods to punish the repeat offenders.

"We did expect such problems to crop up when we distributed the e-books.
"Although the situation is not critical with only five cases among the over 12,000 e-books distributed to date, we want to nip the trend in the bud.

"We are confident of overcoming this problem," he said yesterday.

Ahmad was speaking to reporters after receiving a cheque for RM30,000 from HSBC Amanah Takaful (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd for the "Didik UPSR" programme at Wisma Darul Iman.

The e-book programme, reputed to be the first of its kind in the country, is aimed at giving information and communication technology exposure to students as well as to lighten their schoolbags.

The Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka provides the digital textbooks installed in the laptops.

The 1.1kg e-book is installed with a complete school syllabus and religious study programs such as Muqaddam and Quran.

Each laptop is powered by an Intel Atom processor and 512MB of RAM and a 4GB hard disk.

It is sold to the state government at RM999 each, inclusive of the digital textbooks and a one-year warranty.

Ahmad said there were 335 vacancies for EIOs. Currently the state has 165 such officers and hopes to have 500 by the year-end.NST

Pelajar serang rumah guru

Oleh IRMAN HASHIM
utusanterengganu@utusan.com.my

KUALA TERENGGANU 26 Jun - Mereka datang dengan penuh rasa dendam dan marah.Setibanya di rumah guru itu, kumpulan tersebut mula membuat bising. Mereka semakin ganas dengan menjerit dan mencabar guru terbabit supaya keluar dari rumah.

Guru tersebut tidak berani untuk keluar melihat tindakan kurang ajar kumpulan itu yang masing-masing baru berusia 15 tahun.

Dia hanya mengintai dari tingkap rumahnya - melihat tiga daripada mereka terbabit memanjat pagar rumahnya. Bagaikan dirasuk hantu, kumpulan itu mula menggegarkan pintu jeriji rumah guru berkenaan.

Tidak cukup dengan itu, dua buah kereta milik guru tersebut, Proton Waja dan Proton Satria turut dirosakkan.

Tindakan ganas ini bukanlah aksi filem atau perlakuan ah long - sebaliknya kumpulan pelajar sekolah yang tidak berpuas hati selepas salah seorang rakan mereka dirotan.

Salah seorang rakan mereka sebelum itu dirotan oleh guru disiplin terbabit, atas kesalahan ingkar arahan guru.

Ketua Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Negeri, Asisten Komisioner Mohd. Fauzi Abduri berkata, dalam kejadian kira-kira pukul 6.10 petang, guru berusia 38 tahun itu berada di rumahnya di Kampung Paya Resak, Bukit Payong bersama isteri dan seorang anaknya.

Menurut beliau, ketika itulah pelajar tersebut datang secara berkumpulan dan menyerang rumahnya.

"Mereka mencabar guru tersebut, namun mangsa tidak memberikan sebarang reaksi menyebabkan pelajar itu naik berang," katanya ketika dihubungi di sini hari ini.

Beliau menambah, guru itu kemudian membuat laporan polis di Balai Polis Bukit Payong kira-kira pukul 7.40 petang selepas kesemua pelajar itu beredar.

Bertindak atas laporan, katanya, polis menahan dua pelajar tingkatan tiga yang dipercayai terlibat dalam kejadian itu pada hari sama untuk membantu siasatan.

Katanya, siasatan awal mendapati, pelajar tersebut mengaku mereka bertindak demikian kerana tidak berpuas hati setelah rakan mereka dirotan.

Kes itu, kata Mohd. Fauzi, disiasat di bawah Seksyen 147, 427 dan 506 Kanun Keseksaan. Pihak polis kini sedang mengesan saki baki pelajar yang terlibat dalam kejadian itu.

Boy punched by ex-student

NST Online » Local News

2009/06/24

KUALA TERENGGANU: A 17-year-old student was injured when he was punched by a former student in the school toilet on Monday.

In the 9am incident, the victim, from here, suffered bruises on his left cheek.

He informed his teacher and was sent to the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital for treatment.

State CID chief ACP Mohd Fauzi Abduri said the victim lodged a police report at noon, claiming that the suspect confronted him in the toilet before punching him in the face.

Police have yet to detain the suspect.

Terengganu Sedia Jadi Pembekal E-book Di Seluruh Negara

KUALA TERENGGANU, 18 Jun (Bernama) -- Terengganu sedia menjadi pembekal buku elektronik atau e-Book di seluruh negara bagi kegunaan pelajar, kata Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pelajaran, Pengajian Tinggi, Sains & Teknologi dan Sumber Manusia Negeri, Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman.

Beliau berkata Kementerian Pelajaran menunjukkan minat menggunakan e-Book setelah Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said membuat tawaran kepada Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yang juga Menteri Pelajaran, baru-baru ini.

"Kita ingin pastikan penggunaan e-Book di Terengganu berjalan lancar kerana kita sekarang sedang dipantau oleh Kementerian Pelajaran dan negeri-negeri lain.

"Mengikut perancangan, pada pertengahan bulan depan, semua murid Tahun Lima di Terengganu yang berjumlah kira-kira 25,000 orang akan mendapat e-Book masing-masing," katanya selepas merasmikan Hari Guru peringkat daerah Kuala Terengganu di sini Khamis.

Ahmad Razif berkata pembelajaran dalam bentuk buku elektronik itu juga mendapat perhatian daripada kerajaan negeri Melaka, Sarawak dan terbaru Brunei.

"Brunei menunjukkan minat terhadap penggunaan e-Book yang dipelopori oleh Terengganu. Mereka sudah mengambil contoh e-Book untuk diteliti dan sekarang menunggu pelaksanaannya di Terengganu dengan penuh minat," katanya.

Beliau berkata syarikat Intel Sdn Bhd yang membekalkan komputer itu telah memberi persetujuan kepada anak syarikat kerajaan negeri, Top-IT Sdn Bhd untuk menjadi pembekal buku elektronik itu.

E-Book merupakan buku elektronik yang dibekalkan dengan pelbagai subjek pendidikan kepada murid Tahun Lima dalam usaha meningkatkan pelajaran mereka di samping meringankan beban membawa buku ke sekolah.

-- BERNAMA

722 murid 10 DUN terima e-book

KIJAL – Ramai murid mengetahui cara menggunakan komputer riba (e-book) kerana mereka diberi pendedahan oleh guru mahupun ibu bapa masing-masing.

Walaupun baru berumur 11 tahun, namun kebijaksanaan mereka menghargai pemberian kerajaan negeri dirasai kerana masing-masing berazam belajar bersungguh-sungguh demi kecemerlangan dalam bidang akademik.

Pelajar Tahun Lima Sekolah Kebangsaan Kijal, Rabiatul Norafizah Raslim, 11, berkata, sejak awal lagi, guru di sekolahnya memberi pendedahan mengenai langkah penggunaan e-book, selain cara penjagaan sempurna.

“Saya mahir menggunakan internet dan semua perisian yang terdapat di dalamnya, perasaan seronok tidak dapat digambarkan sehingga saya tidak tidur malam kelmarin untuk menunggu majlis ini,” katanya kepada Sinar Harian.

Rabiatul Norafizah dan beberapa murid lain menerima sumbangan e-book pada Majlis Penyerahan E-Book dan Bantuan Pakaian Seragam membabitkan 10 sekolah di Kawasan Dewan Undangan Negeri Kijal di Sekolah Kebangsaan Ibok, disampaikan Menteri Besar, Datuk Ahmad Said, kelmarin.

Menurut Rabiatul, penggunaan e-book harus diperluaskan kepada semua murid namun dia memahami tidak semua murid memiliki keistimewaan itu.

“Saya berjanji menjaga peralatan ini dengan sempurna. Saya memahami komputer riba mudah rosak dan perisiannya agak sensitif, ibu bapa saya juga akan membantu menjaga nya,” katanya.

Bagi Mohd Khairul Nizam Sabree, 11, dia berjanji tidak akan menyalahgunakan komputer riba untuk bermain permainan video kerana tidak mahu mensia-siakan peluang diberikan kepadanya.

“Saya tidak akan menyalahgunakannya. Bagi saya sia-sia sahaja kerajaan negeri membelanjakan jutaan ringgit untuk kemudahan ini tetapi murid tidak tahu memanfaatkannya,” katanya.

Menurut Mohd Khairul, dia sudah memiliki komputer di rumah dan ibu bapanya sudah lama mengajar cara menggunakannya.

“Ayah banyak mendedahkan saya dengan dunia sains dan teknologi. Setakat ini saya mahir melayari internet, menyalin fail, menaip dan membaca maklumat dalam internet,” katanya.

Mohd Khairul juga berharap semua murid yang menerima kemudahan itu tidak menyalahgunakan e-book selain memanfaatkan ruang bagi menambah ilmu serta pengalaman demi kecemerlangan dalam bidang akademik.

Pada majlis itu, Ahmad menyerahkan e-book kepada 722 penerima e-book peringkat pertama bagi keperluan pembelajaran mereka.

Beliau turut menasihatkan penerima e-book supaya menjaga peralatan itu dengan baik dan tidak menggunakannya untuk melayari lama web tidak berfaedah atau bermain ‘games’ yang boleh melalaikan.

Jangan salah guna kemudahan e-book

KUALA TERENGGANU – Usaha kerajaan negeri menyediakan kemudahan buku elektronik atau e-book kepada pelajar bagi menggantikan sepenuhnya penggunaan buku teks di sekolah, adalah langkah baik, seiring zaman teknologi komunikasi dan maklumat (ICT) pada masa kini.

Yang Dipertua Persatuan Ibu Bapa dan Guru Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Panji Alam, Hamzah Mohd Zin berkata, bagi memastikan keberkesanan penggunaan e-book itu, pelajar perlu mendapat pendedahan terlebih dahulu supaya mereka memahami penggunaannya.

“Guru perlu memastikan pelajar mengetahui selok -belok cara menggunakan buku elektronik ini bagi memastikan mereka tidak ketinggalan ketika proses pengajaran dan pembelajaran berlangsung.

“Bagaimanapun, pemantauan dari masa ke semasa perlu dilakukan. Ia penting supaya e-book tidak disalahgunakan pelajar," katanya.

Menurut Hamzah, buku elektronik itu boleh mengakses pelbagai maklumat yang tidak ditapis di internet dan dikhuatiri pelajar mengambil kesempatan mengakses informasi tidak berfaedah.

“Justeru, saya berharap supaya penggunaan kemudahan e-book dapat dilakukan secara efektif bagi membantu melahirkan pelajar celik teknologi maklumat," katanya. Sinar

Agihan e-Book selesai penghujung Jun

KEMAMAN - Pembahagian komputer riba kepada 23,000 murid Tahun Lima di seluruh sekolah rendah di negeri ini akan diselesaikan sehingga penghujung bulan ini bagi memastikan hasrat kerajaan negeri melahirkan generasi baru celik teknologi maklumat (IT) tercapai.

:Menteri Besar Terengganu, Datuk Ahmad Said berkata, pembahagian e-Book di kawasan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kijal pertama kali diadakan bagi kawasan Kemaman membabitkan 722 penerima dari 10 buah sekolah, di sini.

:“Kita akan selesaikan secepat mungkin, dijangka akhir bulan ini semuanya selesai dan murid boleh menggunakannya kerana semuanya sudah disediakan dengan lengkap.” katanya kepada pemberita.

:Beliau berkata demikian selepas selesai Majlis Penyerahan e-Book dan Bantuan Pakaian Seragam di Dewan Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Ibok, Kijal.

:Menurut Ahmad, melalui sistem ‘Virtual Class’, murid akan dibawa mendalami ilmu IT dengan pengawasan sepenuhnya oleh guru.

:“Tidak timbul soal murid bermain ‘games’ menggunakan komputer riba ini, terpulang kepada kawalan guru dan ibu bapa.

:"Melalui sistem ‘Virtual Class’, jutaan ringgit telah dibelanjakan dan kami akan sentiasa mengemas kini sistem itu dari masa ke semasa.

:“Kerajaan negeri juga merancang membina kilang komputer milik sendiri pada tahun depan dengan peruntukan RM8 bagi merealisasikan hasrat ini,” katanya.

:Menurut Ahmad, ia adalah bukti keprihatinan kerajaan negeri bagi memberikan yang terbaik kepada murid tanpa mengira latar belakang dan agama.

:“Kerajaan negeri juga telah membelanjakan RM34 juta untuk tujuan ini, justeru, kita harus bangga kerana Terengganu satu-satunya negeri menggunakan kaedah ini selepas Venezuala dan Portugal,”katanya.

:Ditanya mengenai isu Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia tidak patut melengahkan siasatan ke atas dua ‘Datuk’ yang dikatakan terbabit dengan rasuah berhubung pembinaan Lebuhraya Lingkaran Tengah 2, beliau enggan mengulas lanjut mengenai isu berkenaan.

:“Saya ’no komen’, begitu juga dengan isu Chin Peng, saya tidak mahu mengulas panjang, bagi saya itu sejarah pahit yang menyebabkan ramai orang terkorban ketika zamannya.

:“Dia memang seorang yang tidak bertanggungjawab,”katanya. Sinar

Students to receive e-books by end of month

KEMAMAN; Tues: More than 23,000 primary five students from 100 primary schools in Terengganu will receive laptops to replace textbooks at the latest by end of the month.
Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said state executive councillors and assemblymen would start the distibution this week in their respective constituencies.

"We will do this as soon as possible, starting with 772 primary five students in 10 schools in the Kijal constituency," he told reporters after attending a ceremony to present e-books and aid for school uniforms at Sekolah Kebangsaan Ibok, Kijal, here today.

Ahmad said to ensure effective use of the e-books and to prevent misuse, the state government would work with Intel to develop a system to monitor their learning.

"When a teacher is teaching, they will have a device to control and monitor their students'' computers. This means during a mathematics lesson, even if the student is not interested they cannot open up to another subject," he said. - BERNAMA

Yayasan Terengganu Taja 100 Pelajar Ikuti Pengajian Perubatan

KUALA TERENGGANU, 16 Jun (Bernama) -- Yayasan Terengganu (YT) akan menaja 100 pelajar dari kalangan anak negeri untuk melanjutkan pelajaran dalam bidang perubatan di luar negara tahun ini.

Pengarahnya Mohd Kamaru Al-Amin Ismail berkata pelajar-pelajar itu akan dihantar untuk mengikuti pengajian tersebut di Rusia dan Mesir Oktober ini.

"Proses memilih calon untuk melanjutkan pelajaran dalam bidang perubatan di dua buah negara itu sudah selesai. Namun mereka perlu terlebih dahulu mengikuti kursus bahasa berkaitan dan tata negara," katanya di sini Selasa.

Beliau berkata sehingga ini, Yayasan Terengganu menaja 261 pelajar anak negeri untuk mengikuti pengajian perubatan di luar negara, dengan 78 darinya ke Rusia, Ukraine (38), Indonesia (65) dan Mesir (80).

Menurutnya pihak Yayasan membelanjakan RM30 juta bagi membiayai pengajian pelajar-pelajar berkenaan bagi tempoh enam tahun.

Mohd Kamaru Al-Amin berkata kerajaan negeri merancang untuk menghantar antara 100 dan 150 pelajar anak negeri untuk mengikuti pengajian perubatan sama ada di dalam dan luar negara setiap tahun.

"Matlamat kami ialah untuk memastikan jumlah pegawai perubatan dalam negara mencukupi pada masa akan datang," katanya.

Dalam perkembangan lain, beliau berkata mulai tahun ini, Yayasan Terengganu sedang bekerjasama dengan syarikat Asia Pasific di Kota Bharu, Kelantan untuk melatih 20 anak Terengganu selama setahun untuk menjadi juruterbang.

-- BERNAMA

Yayasan Terengganu Taja 100 Pelajar Ikuti Pengajian Perubatan

KUALA TERENGGANU, 16 Jun (Bernama) -- Yayasan Terengganu (YT) akan menaja 100 pelajar dari kalangan anak negeri untuk melanjutkan pelajaran dalam bidang perubatan di luar negara tahun ini.

Pengarahnya Mohd Kamaru Al-Amin Ismail berkata pelajar-pelajar itu akan dihantar untuk mengikuti pengajian tersebut di Rusia dan Mesir Oktober ini.

"Proses memilih calon untuk melanjutkan pelajaran dalam bidang perubatan di dua buah negara itu sudah selesai. Namun mereka perlu terlebih dahulu mengikuti kursus bahasa berkaitan dan tata negara," katanya di sini Selasa.

Beliau berkata sehingga ini, Yayasan Terengganu menaja 261 pelajar anak negeri untuk mengikuti pengajian perubatan di luar negara, dengan 78 darinya ke Rusia, Ukraine (38), Indonesia (65) dan Mesir (80).

Menurutnya pihak Yayasan membelanjakan RM30 juta bagi membiayai pengajian pelajar-pelajar berkenaan bagi tempoh enam tahun.

Mohd Kamaru Al-Amin berkata kerajaan negeri merancang untuk menghantar antara 100 dan 150 pelajar anak negeri untuk mengikuti pengajian perubatan sama ada di dalam dan luar negara setiap tahun.

"Matlamat kami ialah untuk memastikan jumlah pegawai perubatan dalam negara mencukupi pada masa akan datang," katanya.

Dalam perkembangan lain, beliau berkata mulai tahun ini, Yayasan Terengganu sedang bekerjasama dengan syarikat Asia Pasific di Kota Bharu, Kelantan untuk melatih 20 anak Terengganu selama setahun untuk menjadi juruterbang.

-- BERNAMA

Rural students will need help

NST Online » Local News
2009/06/10

KUALA TERENGGANU: Despite impressive showings in public examinations over the past five years, Terengganu-based school administrators were sceptical that students, especially those in rural areas, were ready for English to be made a compulsory passing subject at the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia level.

Terengganu has, for some years now, been the best performing state for the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan (STPM) examinations, but school administrators argued that their top scorers were usually from residential schools or schools located in major towns.

A senior school administrator said students from the East Coast, especially Terengganu and Kelantan, were the most likely to suffer should the new ruling be enforced as generally, the language was less used in school and homes compared to other parts of the country.

"It's not a level playing field for them, especially for the Malay rural students. It never has been."

SK Seberang Marang headmaster Mohd Ali said the idea was a good one but only if rural students were ready for it.
"For them to be ready, they must be provided with better facilities, such as competent teachers and more opportunities to use the language."

SK Durian Burung Parent-Teacher Association chairman Mohd Noor Ashaari expressed concern the ruling would create a bigger problem -- a sharp drop in people who qualify for entry-level government jobs.

"For example, to apply for an entry-level job with the government, such as the army or police, they need a basic SPM certificate. If students fail their English and do not get this basic certificate, how will these jobs be filled?"

Mohd Noor suggested that the ministry produce enough competent English teachers first.

In Pahang, SMK Sungai Lembing headmaster Baharudin Abdullah said the idea would be successful if rural pupils were given extra English classes.

"Our tuition programme showed positive results as it allowed our pupils, who are mostly farmers' children, the chance to converse in English," he said.

He, however, welcomed the idea of making English a compulsory pass subject as he felt it would encourage the rural pupils to strive harder.

"They can do it. They just need more attention and since they can't afford tuition, the schools will have to provide it for them."

Senoi Orang Asli parent Karim Bunyamin, 49, from Sungai Dua Orang Asli settlement in Karak, admitted to having limited English but hoped his six children will have a better chance of mastering the language.

"I worry that if English is made compulsory, they will fail and will not get the certificate. I hope the government will focus on helping Orang Asli pupils get extra attention in school," he said.

English teacher Woo Eu Suan of SMK Seri Mahkota in Kuantan said the idea might work but hoped the government would provide more incentives for English teachers sent to rural areas.

Other languages may be used in e-books

Friday June 5, 2009
Other languages may be used in e-books

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Terengganu government is studying the option of incorporating Arabic, Mandarin and other Asian languages as a holistic learning tool in its recently-introduced digital textbooks or e-books for primary school pupils.

Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said told Star Metro that the state would seek the expertise of linguists in adding the language options into the e-books.

“We hope to provide a wide-range of language syllabuses for our pupils through this inclusion,” he said.

The e-books are expected to replace school bags for 25,000 Year Five pupils in Terengganu. The first batch of 15,000 pupils in Primary Five will receive the e-books after the June school break.

Ahmad said the state hoped to provide a conducive learning environment through the e-books.

“The e-books will be crucial for pupils to keep pace with the magnitude of global information and communication technology,” he added.

Ahmad said the e-books would give comprehensive coverage on the study of Islamic study.

They will be distributed statewide by the respective district education officers to the Year Five pupils on June 14.

The state has invested RM15mil in the e-book scheme as a long-term plan to mould computer literacy in primary school pupils.

Ahmad said the scheme would be similar to the free text book programme as the pupils were required to return the e-books at the end of the school session in November. star

Corak murid kuasai bidang IT

Oleh NOR AZIAH JAAFAR
utusanterengganu@utusan.com.my


Ahmad Said meninjau para pelajar menggunakan e-Book yang menggantikan buku sekolah pada Majlis Pelancaran e-Book di Sekolah-Sekolah Negeri Terengganu di Dewan Sultan Mizan, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Kuala Terengganu, semalam.

KUALA TERENGGANU 27 Mei - Langkah Terengganu memperkenalkan penggunaan buku elektronik atau e-Book di kalangan murid sekolah rendah adalah bagi mencorakkan bidang pendidikan di negeri itu mengikut arus perubahan dunia.

Menteri Besar, Datuk Ahmad Said berkata, penggunaan e-Book akan mengubah landskap pendidikan di Terengganu dengan memberi lonjakan hebat terhadap penguasaan teknologi maklumat (IT) di peringkat awal persekolahan lagi.

Ini kerana jelasnya, definisi negara maju seperti yang digariskan oleh Kesatuan Eropah (EU) kini telah berubah iaitu bukan berdasarkan keluasan dan hasil bumi, sebaliknya mempunyai masyarakat yang inovatif, kreatif serta bermaklumat melalui penguasaan dalam IT.

''Hal ini jelas kelihatan pada dunia hari ini yang mana tiada aspek kehidupan yang tidak terlibat dengan teknologi ini.

''Memandangkan perkembangan yang sudah pasti menjadi pemangkin kemajuan sesebuah negara pada masa akan datang, Terengganu memutuskan untuk memberi tumpuan kepada bidang pendidikan dengan mencorakkannya mengikut arus perubahan dunia melalui penggunaan e-Book,'' ujarnya.

Beliau berucap pada Majlis Pelancaran e-Book di Sekolah-Sekolah Negeri Terengganu di Dewan Sultan Mizan, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) di sini semalam.

Menurut Ahmad, kerajaan negeri yakin prasarana yang kondusif adalah penting bagi melahirkan pelajar yang bukan sahaja cemerlang dalam akademik, tetapi turut membangun minda serta sahsiahnya.

Sebagai langkah pertama jelasnya, sebanyak 25,000 e-Book yang dilengkapi perisian buku-buku teks serta al-Quran, doa dan amalan solat akan diagihkan secara percuma kepada murid tahun lima bermula semalam.

Katanya, ia akan diikuti agihan kepada murid tahun empat, tiga, dua dan satu selepas ini.

''Kerajaan Terengganu akan membelanjakan kira-kira RM30 juta setahun untuk menyediakan e-Book kepada semua murid sekolah rendah.

''Walaupun kosnya tinggi, kita melihat program ini sebagai satu pelaburan jangka panjang yang hasilnya nanti akan melahirkan anak-anak Terengganu yang celik komputer seawal bangku sekolah," ujarnya.

Selepas e-Book jelasnya, kerajaan Terengganu akan membangunkan komputer riba sendiri untuk diagihkan kepada pelajar sekolah menengah pula di kilang yang didirikan di Gong Badak dengan kerjasama Intel.

Pelajar Terengganu guna e-Book

Oleh NOR AZIAH JAAFAR
utusanterengganu@utusan.com.my


AHMAD Said menunjukkan e-Book dalam bentuk digital yang bakal digunakan oleh pelajar sekolah di Terengganu bagi menggantikan buku sekolah pada majlis Pelancaran e-Book di Sekolah-Sekolah Negeri Terengganu di Kuala Terengganu, semalam. - UTUSAN/FAUZI BAHARUDIN

KUALA TERENGGANU 26 Mei - Terengganu kini menyertai Portugal dan Venezuela iaitu negara di dunia yang menyediakan kemudahan buku elektronik atau e-Book kepada pelajar bagi menggantikan sepenuhnya penggunaan buku teks di sekolah.

Menteri Besar, Datuk Ahmad Said berkata, pelaksanaan e-Book dengan akses Internet kepada setiap murid sekolah rendah adalah usaha kerajaan negeri untuk meningkatkan capaian pendidikan bagi menyediakan tenaga kerja dalam era k-Ekonomi.

''Program e-Book ini sudah pasti akan menjadi tumpuan bukan sahaja di negeri lain dalam Malaysia, namun turut menjadi perhatian negara lain.

''Usaha ini merupakan blueprint bagi melahirkan masyarakat baru berteknologi maklumat (IT). Banyak pihak akan memerhati perkembangan program e-Book ini dan kejayaan Terengganu akan merintis revolusi pendidikan di negara kita," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika berucap pada Majlis Pelancaran e-Book di Sekolah-Sekolah Negeri Terengganu di Dewan Sultan Mizan, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) di sini hari ini.

Hadir sama ialah Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Terengganu, Datuk Mokhtar Nong dan Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pelajaran, Pengajian Tinggi, Sains Teknologi dan Sumber Manusia Terengganu, Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman.

Pada majlis pelancaran itu, turut diadakan pertandingan Skor A secara online yang dimenangi oleh Daerah Setiu yang menerima hadiah kemenangan sebuah komputer sumbangan Intel Electronic Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.

Menurut Ahmad, sebagai langkah pertama, 25,000 unit e-Book yang dilengkapi perisian buku-buku teks sekolah rendah serta perisian tambahan termasuk al-Quran, doa dan amalan solat akan diagihkan secara percuma kepada murid tahun lima melalui Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah mulai hari ini.

Jelasnya, agihan e-Book sama seperti Skim Pinjaman Buku Teks (SPBT) iaitu pada penghujung tahun kemudahan itu mesti dipulangkan kembali kepada pihak sekolah.

Cuma kata beliau, berbeza dengan SPBT, e-Book akan diagihkan kepada semua murid tidak kira mereka datang dari keluarga miskin atau kaya.

''Pada permulaan sesi persekolahan yang akan datang, pelajar tahun lima kini akan diberikan e-Book yang mempunyai perisian baru untuk pelajar tahun enam dan pada masa sama, murid tahun lima tahun hadapan akan turut menerima e-Book yang lengkap dengan perisian khusus untuk mereka," ujarnya.

Beliau memberitahu, setiap e-Book disertai dengan jaminan selama setahun, malah ia dibina tahan lasak dengan ciri kalis air serta mampu menahan beban sehingga 20 kilogram.

Sebanyak 347 sekolah dengan 23,191 murid tahun lima serta 3,831 guru akan menerima e-Book melalui program ini.

Fasa pertama agihan mulai hari ini melibatkan 127 sekolah serta 10,438 murid tahun lima.

Ini diikuti agihan e-Book kepada pelajar tahun empat, tiga dua dan satu selepas ini.

500 EIO jayakan e-Book

KUALA TERENGGANU 26 Mei - Seramai 500 orang pegawai eksekutif maklumat (EIO) akan ditempatkan di sekolah-sekolah rendah seluruh negeri bagi melicinkan pelaksanaan program buku elektronik atau e-Book.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pelajaran, Pengajian Tinggi, Sains, Teknologi dan Sumber Manusia negeri, Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman berkata, bagi peringkat pertama seramai 135 orang EIO telah dilantik dan ditempatkan di sekolah-sekolah.

Menurutnya, baki seramai 350 orang akan diambil bertugas tidak lama lagi.

''Seramai 18 pegawai teknikal juga akan diambil bertugas untuk melaksanakan program ini.

''Kita melatih pegawai yang khusus untuk mengendalikan e-Book. Sebarang kerosakan atau masalah e-Book boleh dirujuk kepada mereka," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika berucap pada Majlis Pelancaran e-Book di Sekolah-Sekolah Negeri Terengganu hari ini yang disempurnakan Menteri Besar, Datuk Ahmad Said di Dewan Sultan Mizan, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) di sini hari ini.

Menurut Ahmad Razif, pelaksanaan program e-Book ini berikutan keprihatinan kerajaan negeri dengan keperluan pendidikan semasa.

Katanya, penggunaan e-Book akan mengubah landskap pendidikan di Terengganu dengan memberi lonjakan hebat terhadap penggunaan teknologi maklumat (IT) di kalangan murid sekolah.

''Usaha ini diyakini mampu mencapai impian kita untuk menjadikan Terengganu sebagai 'Anjung Ilmu' pada masa hadapan," katanya.