Help promote English as second language to pupils, NGOs urged
Published on: Tuesday, September 05, 2023
By: Wu Vui Tek
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Yahya and Rosie (seventh and ninth, right) with all the winners and RCKK Pearl members.
Yahya Mustafa, the Senior Principal Assistant Director of the English Language Unit, expressed gratitude that the Rotary Club of KK (RCKK) Pearl has initiated Project Real (Rural Focus-English for All) to promote English.
“We hope that this will raise awareness and serve as an eye-opener regarding the importance of English as a second or even third language for school pupils,” he said during the Project Real Inter-District Competition 2023 finals at a hotel.
The competition involved participants from 11 districts in Sabah, comprising 34 schools, organized by the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu (RCKK) Pearl.
It consisted of poetry writing for primary four, five, and six, storytelling for primary five, and a speech competition for primary six.
“This event is an opportunity for teachers and pupils in rural areas to get inspired, hear ideas from young minds, and share stories.
“We must recognise that this international language can and will help pupils explore more during their learning process,” he said.
He also said that the methods of teaching English in the classroom should be improved to make it effective, exciting, and fun for all.
He said that the continuous support from RCKK Pearl, providing storybooks, dictionaries, monitor screens, and bookshelves, has enabled selected rural schools to start their own English corners.
He hoped that these contributions could at least narrow the learning gap between rural schools and those in or around urban areas.
RCKK Pearl President Rosie Chong said that Project Real was started in 2016 and has been implemented in 34 rural schools so far.
RCKK Pearl has distributed over 8,000 dictionaries to primary pupils in those schools, and 18,000 storybooks have been placed in English corners with audio and visual equipment.
“To ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the project, we also conduct workshops to train English teachers and hold interschool competitions,” said Chong.
The objective of the competition was to promote and enhance the use of English in primary schools outside the classroom syllabus.
The competition results saw Nuril Qousarah Mohd of SK Rugading, Tuaran; Airenna Anne Rollens (SK Tinangol, Kudat); and Putri Juhana Nurul Zahra Jurrahman respectively winning the poetry category for primary four, five, and six.
The primary five storytelling category was won by Aqeel Najuan Mohd Sam (SK Kawang), while Nelvia Valerie Nelwill (SK Tinangol) won the primary six speech competition. Kudat Zone One was declared the overall winner.
