Programme fosters relationships, addresses absenteeism

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THE Ministry of Education has recently launched a national programme called the ‘Program Ziarah Cakna’, with the aim of fostering strong relationships between the schools, parents, guardians and students; and promoting the ‘caring school’ concept.

Penang deputy district officer (northeast district) Fadzil Sadikin said the programme was initiated as a measure to curb absenteeism, which was said to be more common among students from poor families.

“We are very concerned for those students who have problems with their attendance, as well as those who come from poor families.

“Some of them are bright students who often miss school because of the financial difficulties that their families are going through.

“We believe that we are able to help them better by knowing more about the families; and the students will be more willing to return to school,” Fadzil told the media during the launch of the programme at SK Bukit Gelugor recently.

Fadzil also shared that a total of 391 students from 46 school in the northeast district had benefited from the ‘Yayasan Pelajaran MARA’ programme this year.

Later, staff from the northeast district office together with Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh visited the homes of four students from SK Bukit Gelugor.

The group presented a hamper containing grocery items; and RM100 courtesy of Ramkarpal to each of the family.

Ramkarpal also allocated RM110,000 for the setting up of a digital room at SK Bukit Gelugor and presented goodies to some 20 students from the school.

District Education Officer (northeast district) Azizah Paijo who was also present during the launch, said that the ‘Program Ziarah Cakna’ has left a positive impact on students.

“I would like to thank Ramkarpal for his contribution towards the setting up of the digital room at the school,’’ Azizah added.

Also present were deputy chairman and executive officer of the Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

Story & Pix Tanushalini Moroter