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Red Dot United’s Malay Bureau proposes Race-Blind EduFund Tuition Scheme (SETS) for underprivileged students

The Malay Bureau of Red Dot United (RDU) presents the Supporting EduFund Tuition Scheme (SETS) for underprivileged students in Singapore, prioritizing economic need over race-based assistance.

This initiative aims to bridge educational gaps, focusing on smaller class sizes and personalized learning experiences. Dr. Syed Alwi, the key researcher, emphasizes its significance in addressing educational inequalities.

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1 year ago

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SINGAPORE: The Malay Bureau of Red Dot United (RDU) has proposed a groundbreaking policy proposal, named the Supporting EduFund Tuition Scheme (SETS), with a primary focus on addressing the educational needs of underprivileged children in Singapore.

This initiative distinguishes itself by adopting a race-blind approach, diverging from the conventional government-supported programs that allocate assistance based on race-based self-help groups.

The comprehensive proposal (accessible online) provides a detailed overview of the SETS initiative and its distinctive features.

The proposal specifies that their tuition program will concentrate exclusively on students in Primary 5 and 6.

This choice is part of their strategic approach aimed at preparing students for the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).

“We shall begin with an assumed total of 5000 needy students of all races, within the Primary 5 and 6 cohorts in a given academic year,” it stated.

SETS: A new approach to education equity in Singapore

In a departure from Singapore’s existing race-based assistance programs for disadvantaged students, SETS concentrates solely on economic need, disregarding the racial background of the pupils.

This proposal coincides with ongoing public discussions concerning disparities in Singapore’s education system.

Mr Feroz Mohamed, the Head of RDU’s Malay Bureau, emphasized, “While ethnic self-help groups have made efforts to provide free or low-cost tuition to disadvantaged students, their impact is limited due to their race-based approach, hindering interaction and learning between students of different races and leading to larger class sizes.”

SETS aspires to level the playing field for eligible students, offering equitable access to high-quality tuition services irrespective of their racial backgrounds.

By doing so, SETS aims to foster inclusivity and bridge educational gaps without perpetuating racial divisions.

A notable distinction between SETS and existing tuition programs offered by self-help groups like MENDAKI, SINDA, and CDAC is the class size.

Traditional programs often accommodate larger class sizes to reach a greater number of students, whereas SETS advocates for smaller class sizes, limiting them to just four students per class.

This reduced student-to-tutor ratio enables a more personalized and focused learning experience, allowing tutors to tailor their teaching methods to individual student needs.

This emphasis on smaller classes underscores SETS’ commitment to providing quality education and individualized attention to underprivileged students, potentially enhancing their academic outcomes.

Dr Syed Alwi, the key researcher behind the Malay Bureau’s proposal, remarked, “SETS is a groundbreaking, race-blind initiative designed to offer equal opportunities to all eligible students in need.”

“It represents a significant stride in addressing educational inequalities from a race-blind perspective,” he added.

In a time when inclusivity and equal access to education are paramount, the SETS initiative by the Malay Bureau of RDU aligns with the core values enshrined in Singapore’s pledge, emphasizing, “…REGARDLESS OF RACE, LANGUAGE OR RELIGION…”

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Education

Singapore to expand Higher Mother Tongue access in secondary schools from 2026

Singapore will allow students who excel in their Mother Tongue Language at the PSLE to take Higher Mother Tongue in secondary school starting in 2026, regardless of their overall PSLE score. The new policy is part of broader efforts to promote bilingualism and strengthen linguistic proficiency.

Published

3 days ago

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16 September 2024

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SINGAPORE: From 2026, students who perform well in their Mother Tongue Language (MTL) at the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) will be eligible to study Higher Mother Tongue at Secondary 1, regardless of their overall PSLE score, announced Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing on 14 September.

Under the current system, only students with an overall PSLE score of 8 or better, or those with a score between 9 and 14 who also achieve an AL1 or AL2 in MTL, or at least a merit in Higher Mother Tongue (HMTL), can qualify to take HMTL in secondary school.

However, from 2026, eligibility will be based solely on their MTL performance.

Students will be able to study HMTL if they score AL1 or AL2 in MTL or attain a distinction or merit in HMTL at the PSLE, regardless of their overall score.

Mr Chan, speaking at the 2024 Mother Tongue Languages Symposium, emphasised the importance of supporting students with linguistic strengths.

“All of us have different strengths and talents. Some students may be strong in languages but not in other subjects,” he said.

“We will support more of these students to take Higher Mother Tongue, so they can learn their MTL to as high a level as possible.”

The initiative forms part of broader efforts to promote bilingualism, which Mr Chan described as a “cornerstone of Singapore’s education system” and a key aspect of Singapore’s national identity.

He noted that bilingualism not only helps to strengthen the country’s social fabric but also enhances cognitive abilities, such as empathy and the understanding of different perspectives.

In a related development, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced the launch of the MTL SOAR programme, which will begin in 2025 for Primary 1 and 2 students.

Under this programme, 30 minutes of the Mother Tongue curriculum will be allocated to reading and library activities, with the initiative to be extended to all primary levels by 2029.

The programme aims to support diverse learners by providing supplementary reading materials tailored to different proficiency levels.

Mr Chan highlighted the programme’s adaptability, explaining that “those who are stronger in mother tongue proficiency can read more books that are richer in content and be stretched in their learning, while those who need more support will have books that are more accessible for them.”

Additionally, as part of a pilot programme, MOE will extend the daily Mother Tongue curriculum at MOE Kindergartens from one hour to 1.5 hours, beginning with the 2025 Kindergarten 1 cohort at MK@Hougang and MK@Elias Park.

The pilot will be gradually expanded to more kindergartens.

The series of initiatives follows Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s National Day Rally speech in August, where he acknowledged concerns about declining standards in Mother Tongue proficiency and announced plans to enable more students to take Higher Mother Tongue in secondary schools.

Mr Chan underscored the cognitive and cultural benefits of bilingualism, stating, “The ability to speak two languages and understand two cultures enables us to maintain a strong link to our heritage and forge connections with people around the world.”

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Education

Malaysian man earns law degree at 77, proving education has no age limit

At 77, Malaysian retiree Zulkifly Abdullah graduated with a Bachelor of Law degree from Universiti Teknologi Mara, marking his second university degree earned in retirement. His story of lifelong learning has gone viral, inspiring many to pursue education regardless of age.

Published

6 days ago

on

13 September 2024

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MALAYSIA: A 77-year-old Malaysian man, Zulkifly Abdullah, has proven that education is indeed a lifelong journey by graduating with a Bachelor of Law degree from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Selangor, Malaysia, on 4 September.

While many in their 70s may enjoy a quiet retirement, Zulkifly instead completed his second university degree in his golden years.

Zulkifly, a retired human resources officer and father of five, began his part-time law studies in 2018 and completed the program in December 2023.

His achievement has garnered significant attention online, with a video of his graduation, posted on UiTM’s official TikTok account, going viral on 9 September.

The clip, which shows Zulkifly smiling as he receives his scroll onstage to loud cheers and applause, has amassed over 950,000 views as of 13 September.

@uitm_channel

Warga emas berusia 77 tahun dari jurusan Sarjana Muda Pengajian Undang-Undang, Fakulti Undang-Undang naik pentas menerima skrol di #istiadatkonvokesyenuitm99 #Konvoksyen99 #konvo99 #usahatakwamulia #uitmdihatiku

♬ original sound – UiTM Channel – UiTM Channel

This is Zulkifly’s second degree earned during retirement. He first returned to school at the age of 60, enrolling at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) from 2007 to 2011, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in History.

His decision to study law came from personal interest, particularly due to his prior work in a ministry dealing with legal regulations.

In an interview with The New Straits Times, Zulkifly acknowledged the challenges of studying in his later years, especially in retaining information, but credited his family, lecturers, and classmates for their unwavering support.

He often discussed legal matters with his son, a lawyer, and sought clarification on various topics from him.

Reflecting on his journey, Zulkifly emphasised the importance of lifelong learning.

“Education is a lifelong journey. Law requires consistent reading and effort. If you have the opportunity, continue learning regardless of your age,” he said.

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