4/12/2014 — http://www.bernama.com/bernama
RAUB, PAHANG- 12 APRIL 2014: A total of 42 empower ECER Temerloh students were honored as “Juara empower ECER” for scoring 5A’s and above in the 2013 SPM examinations, in an event organized by the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC).
The students are from SMK Dong (18 students), SMK Mahmud (17 students), SMK Shahbandar (4 students) and SMK LKTP Tersang (3 students). Overall, 120 empower ECER Raub students sat for 2013 SPM. The 2013 results recorded 12% increase from 2012 of which only 28 students obtained 5A’s and above in the previous year.
YB Dato’ Haji Shahiruddin bin Ab. Moin, State EXCO member for Cooperatives, Entrepreneurs and Consumers, and State Assemblyman for Dong officiated the event, held at the Dewan Pusat Kegiatan Masyarakat KEMAS in Kampung Gali Tengah, Raub.
Earlier, at the same event, a total of 300 teachers from three schools in Raub attended a “Stress Management Seminar For Teachers”.
In his statement, ECERDC Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Jebasingam Issace John said, “We have a unique formula of bringing out the best in our participants. To create a more level playing field, empower ECER focuses on exposing the participants to a variety of learning experiences, that combines training, guidance and motivational sessions.”
empower ECER is a holistic program that combines remedial classes with confidence building. Apart from conducting programmes for academic participants, empower ECER also conducts programs for parents and teachers, who are also key players in a student’s life.
Since its implementation in 2010, empower ECER has delivered impressive results – 100 passes in UPSR, PMR and SPM examinations, with an increasing number scoring distinctions.
Among the high achievers who received the certificates are Mohamed Afifi Daniel bin Mohamed from SMK Dong and Chai Teck Xin from SMK Dato’ Shah Bandar. Mohamed Afifi Daniel whose father is a construction worker only scored 1A in his trial examination, but later, due to his hard work and guidance from empower ECER trainers, he scored 6As in the actual SPM.
Chai Teck Xin whose father is a lorry driver obtained 6As in his trial exam and maintain the scores in the actual SPM examination.
Both students benefitted from the academic training courses which include motivational seminars, summer camp and other related programmes organized by empower ECER Raub.
Overall, empower ECER has a record of delivering 100% passes among students. The program is conducted in 17 locations; nine locations in Pahang, namely Bentong, Temerloh, Raub, Lipis, Cameron Highlands, Jerantut, Maran, Rompin and Kuala Pahang; three locations in Kelantan, namely, Jeli, Bachok and Ketereh; four locations in Terengganu, namely, Kemaman, Dungun, Hulu Terengganu and Besut; and in the ECER district of Mersing, Johor.
In 2014, empower ECER’s Academic Training programme conducted in Pahang has the participation of 5,257 students sitting for three national examinations. This consists of 1,924 participants sitting for the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR),1,752 participants for Pentaksiran Tingkatan 3 (PT3) and 1,581 participants for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).
empower ECER is a twin-pronged human capital development initiative launched by ECERDC in 2010 to help reduce economic disparities between rural and urban communities. It consists of the Academic Training programme and Skills and Entrepreneurship Programme. The latter focuses on vocational training for single mothers, jobless youths and disadvantaged individuals.
To date, the program has benefitted 34,113 participants across ECER, comprising 22,938 students and 11,175 adults. For adult participants, it is estimated that up to 80% of participants will gain employment after completing their courses or have sufficient knowledge and practical experience to start their own business, and the ability to generate income of between RM500 and RM1,500 per month, or even more.
