LitMas (Literacy Malaysia)
Quality Education
Illiteracy and low levels of literacy are prevalent amongst secondary school students in Malaysia. Many students are reading and writing only at kindergarten level. This is especially true in the low performing schools (Band 5 and 6) around Malaysia. Students are forced to follow through the syllabus without first gaining significant levels of literacy. These students either drop out of school before Form 3 or go through until Form Five without being able to read, write and speak in English. Students who are illiterate are also more likely to be involved in various social ills. LitMas (Literacy Malaysia) was incepted to help students who are illiterate in secondary school to be able to read and write in English. LitMas will use specially designed modules for this reading project.
Overview of Issue / Background
Illiteracy and low levels of literacy are prevalent amongst secondary school students in Malaysia. Many students are reading and writing only at kindergarten level. This is especially true in the low performing schools (Band 5 and 6) around Malaysia. Students are forced to follow through the syllabus without first gaining significant levels of literacy. These students either drop out of school before Form 3 or go through until Form Five without being able to read, write and speak in English. Students who are illiterate are also more likely to be involved in various social ills. LitMas (Literacy Malaysia) was incepted to help students who are illiterate in secondary school to be able to read and write in English. LitMas will use specially designed modules for this reading project.
Project Objectives (Vision & Mission)
The following are the objectives of LitMas:-
- To help secondary school students who are illiterate to begin reading and writing in English
- To empower students tutors in schools to help the students in their community
- To help eradicate illiteracy in Malaysia
Project Details (Activities and Tasks)
- Development and improvement of modules – The team will look at the current LitMas module and work towards improving it. Once this is done, the team will send the modules for printing.
- Selection of schools – LitMas will select five underperforming schools to work with.
- Selection of students – Schools selected to carry out LitMas will select students who are illiterate and student tutors.
- LitMas diagnostics – Students will carry out diagnostic test to determine their level of English proficiency.
- LitMas reading classes – Students will carry out LitMas reading classes for 3 months
- Summative test – Students will be given a summative test to gauge their level of improvement
- LitMas graduation – Students graduate from the LitMas reading programme
Expected Project Result & Outcomes
At least 90% of students in LitMas will be able to read and write in English after learning to read using the LitMas modules
0% of RM1.00 Goal
Project Information
| University name | : | Universiti Malaya / Universiti Sains Malaysia |
| Project leader name | : | Aaron Denison/Cheryl Ann Fernando |
Section I
IMPACT – SMK Pinang Tunggal
At SMK Pinang Tunggal, 40 students read using the LitMas modules every Thursday and Sunday, after school. Students have showed more than 50% growth in terms of their reading and all of them are now able to read and write in English. SMK Pinang Tunggal will be starting Module 2 of LitMas in October.
IMPACT – SMK Taman Melawati
LitMas in SMK Taman Melawati is led by Cikgu Rosyada Sulaiman and is run every Tuesdays, after school. To date, they have 10 students and ten tutors who coach the students to read. They are currently half way through module one. Students have shown great progress in terms of their ability to read and understand words in English.
IMPACT – SMK Permatang Tok Labu
LitMas in SMK Permatang Tok Labu is led by Cikgu Cheen Yee. The modules and supplementary reading material are used in two ways, one as reading material in school for students who are weak and the other as a reading material in a community reading effort. Every fortnight, student tutors go into the community to read with the parents and young children. The usage of the LitMas modules has helped students gain interest in reading and writing in the English Language. Students are now reading Module One. Total students impacted is 20.
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