Education without values is meaningless and does not contribute to holistic growth and productivity. Holistic education trains both the head and the heart. For instance, an uneducated may steal from the freight car but an educated one may steal the entire railroad. Currently educational institutions train our young people to become routine learners. Education is a life long process and one need to seek knowledge and wisdom until we leave this earth. I believe education of the mind without morals is a menace to society.
Having this in mind Yayasan Strategik Sosial strongly advocates education that builds fundamental traits of character such as honesty, compassion, courage, persistence and responsibility via character education to the young Indian trainees at skills training institutions undergoing skills training through the RM3million allocation by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) under the Prime Minister’s Department.
At Institute Evertronics, Ipoh, the first batch of 44 Indian students has completed their course on 16th June 2008. The one year training program on Mechatronic which covers level one and two was fully funded by the EPU. The sponsorship covers fees, accommodation and course fee. Apart from this, YSS also have conducted weakly character and value base programs through part of this funding. Our efforts invested on these students have not gone in vain.
YSS is pleased to note that there was remarkable change in their attitudes and behavior compared to the time when they were enrolled for this program. These students who had not done well in their secondary education have proved well in their skill education plus with a change in their character and behavior. In the final examination, of the 44 students, 16 students (36.4%) have obtained excellent results, another 25 students (56.8%) have obtained good results, 2 students (4.55%) just a pass and 1 student (2.8%) failed in this course.When we asked about their plan after this program, 34 students (77%) have indicated to proceed on in the same course to level 3 and 4. Two students (4.5%) indicated their interest to do business with another 8 students (18.2%) wanting to work based on their related training.
YSS is taken the necessary steps to continue assisting these students by making arrangements with the local skills training institutes in Ipoh to further their training or to apply for business loans through Yayasan Tekun or in job placements.These young people who once failed in their secondary education system have proven themselves and are highly motivated to become successful individuals. Moreover YSS believes that these students not only have done will in their desired course but also have shown positive change in their values, character and behavior. I would stress that a person who is morally educated will also a lot better equipped to move up in life or succeed than a morally bankrupt person with excellent academic qualification.
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