Basic HTML Version
A View from the Parent
Teachers Association
HOW D I D GAB G E T I NVO LV E D
WI T H YOUR S CHOO L ?
The English Programme by the GAB Foundation
is in its second year. Amy Bala is one of the
facilitators for training the teachers. We are very
happy with the support that we are receiving.
Not many schools have this opportunity.
HOW MANY S T UD E N T S
AR E B E I NG H E L P E D?
Our school has a population of just over 200
students in six grades. The project funded by GAB
Foundation is for Standard 3 and 4 and supports
about 40 students.
D E S CR I B E T H E S T UD E N T S
WHO AT T E ND T H E PROGRAMME ?
Students are selected based on income needs,
so they come from poor families. Parents are
usually former estate workers, or currently
working in a factory. After school, the children
go home and don’t receive much support for
studying. We keep the children back after school
to give them more support and extra help.
WHAT HAS CHANG E D?
We feel and we see a lot of changes in the school.
Proficiency in English is much improved and you
can see students getting better. The teachers
notice improvements in their grades.
Our school has a long history of not performing
well in the UPSR (Primary School Assessment
Test). Our average rate is 20%. With help that we
have been receiving, we expect that the results
of this batch could go up to 80%–90% when they
take the exam in a few years.
The additional help provided in this programme
is not only in English and is not conducted like
the usual classroom in schools. It is more like
a private school, where there is more interaction
and students are asked to make presentations.
Students are learning rather than just being taught.
Attendance for these additional classes is
almost 100%. The budget from GAB Foundation
also provides for a nutritious meal when they
attend. Parents are also happy and keep sending
children to school.
WHAT CAN GAB DO MOR E O F ?
English is a global language and we think it is
important for our students. At this age, mastering
three languages is not easy. The environment our
students come from also does not provide much
support and motivation.
GAB Foundation funds a two-day motivational
camp once a year and we would like to ask if
they could do more of these, either half yearly or
quarterly. We feel that they students enjoy it and
grow as a result of it.
I think it is also important to implement a more
structured evaluation process to document
improvements. The evaluation should not just be
on English but more holistic such as confidence
and self esteem.
About Mr. Gunasegeran Seerangan
Gunasegeran Seerangan is the Chairman
of Parents and Teachers’ Association (PTA)
since May 2008. He is a qualified electrical
engineer and currently works as an auditor
specialising in Quality and Environmental
Management Systems. He has two children
studying in SJKT Taman Permata. His son
Gopinath is in Standard 5 and daughter
Abirami is in Standard 2. He is married to
Ms. Kalyani who teaches Bahasa Malaysia
in SMK Dengkil. Together with the PTA team,
he has worked on identifying needs of the
school, and engaging partners to develop
programmes and initiatives to improve the
standard of the school.
Enriching Communities
46
G U I N N E S S A N C H O R B E R H A D
( 5 3 5 0 - X )