Stepping up for the third time, DRB-Hicom Bhd has contributed RM25,000 worth of Newspaper-in-Education (NiE) pullouts to schools in six states.

It sponsored the NiE programme in 2010 and 2013 before this.

DRB-Hicom group communications division senior manager Zurinah Sarwan presented a mock cheque for the amount to Star Media Group specialist editor M. Shanmugam at a ceremony in Menara Star on Tuesday.

Geared towards improving English proficiency, the NiE pullout is a 12-page resource that takes a fun, hands-on approach to learning.

The sponsorship by DRB-Hicom will benefit 21 schools – in Kedah, Perak, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Malacca and Pahang – mainly in suburban and non-urban areas where its subsidiaries are.

DRB-Hicom group head of strategic communications Mahmood Abdul Razak said the sponsorship was aimed at bridging the gap in English proficiency between non-urban and urban areas.

“We recognise that students need to be inspired to learn, and using a newspaper as a means to spur learning has always struck me as innovative,” he said.

A person’s command of English could also be improved by using the language regularly, said Mahmood.

“Using newspapers as a learning aid will help achieve that. It also breaks the monotony of textbooks and syllabus. This can help students focus better,” he said.

“Mastery of a second or third language brings immense opportunities to students. It can impact whether they get to attend boarding school, the universities they can choose from, and their attractiveness to employers.

“This is life-changing and a key part of our drive to continue with this collaboration,” he said.

The group has a foothold in the tertiary education industry with DRB-Hicom University of Auto­motive Malaysia which was elevated to a full-fledged university just five years after its inception as International College of Automo­tive.

For details on the Star-NiE school sponsorship programme, call The Star’s Customer Care Unit at 1-300-88-7827, between Monday and Friday (9am to 5pm).

Source:
courtesy of THE STAR

by BY EMILY CHAN

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