IPOH: Concerned over the academic progress of students during the Covid-19 pandemic, the state government today launched a tutoring initiative called "Tuisyen Cikgu Saarani" or TCS for short.
The programme is aimed at helping 40,642 students due to sit for their 2020 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.
Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Saarani Mohamad said the state Education Department is providing extra classes for core subjects namely Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mathematics and History for these students.
The initiative kicked off Feb 1.
"This programme also includes other assistance such as free lunch packs, extensive exercises ahead of the examination, seminars on answering exam questions and preparation of interactive video-based teaching materials.
"A total 488 teachers are involved in this programme and the extra classes are being held after school from 2.30pm and will end at the discretion of the teachers and students," he told reporters via an online Zoom meeting today.
The 2020 SPM examination, which was postponed due to the pandemic, will commence on Feb 22.
Saarani added that the state government had also allocated RM2.71 million as a start to cover the lunch expenses for 35,637 SPM students, who are not from boarding schools, throughout the programme.
"The fund will be channelled to the schools' parents and teachers associations (PTA) and the food will be prepared by the canteen operators of the respective schools," he said.
Saarani said this programme is not compulsory for students to attend but he hoped it would benefit the underprivileged students who might not be able to afford tuition classes.
"Our main objective is to help the students who come from poor families or the B40 group. I believe education is the best way to eradicate poverty," he said.
In general, Saarani, who formerly taught Physics and Mathematics, said a total of 200,000 students would benefit via the TCS programme this year.
"Also benefiting directly from the TCS programme are 37,894 students who will be sitting for their major examinations in 2021; Form Four students (30,320), Form One students (31,761) and Year One students (31,742).
"The allocation also includes financial contributions from state-owned companies such as the Menteri Besar Corporation, Perak Water Board, State Development Corporation and State Agricultural Development Corporation," he said.