PADANG BESAR, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- The Celik Desa Programme, organised by Pertubuhan Cinta Bangsa in collaboration with the Perlis State Education Department, has provided a platform to improve pupils’ proficiency in reading, writing and counting (3M skills), particularly in Bahasa Melayu and Mathematics.
The organisation’s patron, Adjunct Professor Dr Khairul Anam Che Mentri, said the programme, launched in August in response to villagers’ concerns about pupils struggling with basic literacy and numeracy, involves five schools in the Chuping area near here and the Siamese community in Perlis.
“The programme covers five schools, namely Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Bukit Keteri, SK Batu Bertangkup, SK Panggas, SK Felda Chuping and SK Guar Nangka, with up to 25 pupils at each location. Priority is given to upper primary pupils, who attend rotating sessions focusing on Bahasa Melayu and Mathematics,” he told Bernama when speaking to reporters here today.
Khairul Anam said the programme was developed in consultation with the State Education Department, based on information and data gathered on pupils who needed additional support.
He said the school-based programme has entered its ninth week, while the initiative for the Siamese community in Kampung Guar Nangka began slightly later and is scheduled to run for five months, ensuring pupils receive guidance even during school holidays.
Khairul Anam said the program adopts a more relaxed, enjoyable learning approach to engage pupils, with teaching staff volunteering their time on weekends to help.
Meanwhile, Perlis Education Department deputy director (Learning Sector) Mohd Nazri Baharin said the Celik Desa initiative is a beneficial collaborative effort to improve pupils’ literacy and numeracy skills, particularly among the Siamese community in Guar Nangka.
He said a good command of Bahasa Melayu is important to ensure pupils from diverse backgrounds can learn more effectively before moving on to secondary school.
Meanwhile, Sujatha Subramaniam, 37, whose children are taking part in the initiative, said it provides additional learning support while strengthening ties among pupils and teachers.
She said her four children, aged between six and 12, joined the programme in mid-September and have since begun improving their 3M skills.
Vivit a/p Echoy, 45, said the closer guidance by teachers has helped her Year Four daughter improve her Bahasa Melayu essay-writing skills and better understand her lessons.
-- BERNAMA