KUALA LUMPUR: Organisations that helped in the effort to transform the education sector through the Education Ministry’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) were feted here last night.
The PPP is an initiative under the Education Blueprint (2013-2025) that sees the Education Ministry working with corporate companies or foundations that look into assisting schools through programmes that involve financial support or their expertise in related fields.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid presented trophies to all 53 organisations that took part in the initiative in recognition of their contribution to help the government transform and push the education sector to greater heights.
Mahdzir said their contributions in various fields such as sports, music and academics would go a long way in helping the government achieve its aspirations for the long term Education Blueprint programme.
“The ministry is the largest ministry in Malaysia but the magnitude of our responsibility is huge. We need to make our children ready for the future and we truly need your assistance and continued support,” he said.
The initiative comes under the ministry’s School Management Division, monitored by the Education Performance and Delivery Unit.
“The PPP initiative has three platforms in its collaborations with corporate companies and foundations under the school adoption programme, the school trust programme and one-off programme,” he said.
“The programmes are usually done in a long term period while one-off programme is held in a year or less. The companies not only support the schools financially, but in other areas also such as setting up facilities and leadership programmes for teachers and students,” he added.
The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd was one of the 53 companies given recognition by the ministry and chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Jalil Hamid was present to receive the appreciation award.
Other recipients include the likes Yayasan Pintar, Yayasan SP Setia, Yayasan Sime Darby, Khazanah Nasional Berhad and UEM Group.
Last year 2,616 one-off programmes were held in schools nationwide with 64 percent of companies contributed their expertise in related fields while 604 schools were part of the school adoption programme and 21 schools involved in the school trust programme.
Also present were deputy education minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan, Education Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad and Education director general Datuk Dr Amin Senin.