Epson improves education quality for centennial primary school

GEORGE TOWN, May 7 (Bernama) – Epson Malaysia has donated RM40,000 worth of its products to promote sustainable, interactive teaching modules for a 102-year-old homegrown primary school in Penang.

The global technology company has sponsored three interactive projectors, three entry-level projectors and three printers for SJK(C) Eng Chuan, which was one of the under-enrolled schools in Malaysia.

Epson Malaysia Managing Director Daisuke Hori today said that the initiative driven by their corporate social responsibility was the shrinkage in student size at local schools due to parents’ concern on education quality.

Hori said that modern classrooms, equipped with interactive tools, should also increase students’ creativity and learning capabilities, while increasing their desire to gain knowledge, in comparison with the traditional learning environment.

“We want to continue our spirit of giving in education, especially to local schools in need,” he said during a press conference after a four-in-one event here.

According to headmistress Lim Lay Choon, the primary school currently enrolled 53 students in six classrooms and consisted only 10 teachers, including herself, whereas the built-in kindergarten has 18 children.

Lim said that the supply and maintenance of teaching equipment had been a key challenge for the school and the expenses heavily depended on the support from alumni and clan associations.

“We were glad that our plight and assistance have gained attention and Epson came to offer their aid as the school was lacking in adequate teaching materials,” she said.

Aside from Epson’s interactive projectors handover and launching ceremony, three other ceremonies were also held that included the launching of the school’s digital library, which was donated by Lion’s Club and renovated by the school alumni, opening of the mural art, as well as the school’s art exhibition.

Meanwhile, state chief minister Chow Kon Yeow, who officiated the four-in-one event today, hoped that three high-density housing projects currently being developed here would be able to house new families to enrol their children into the school.

“The closest of the three projects to the school, which is at Jalan SP Chelliah, is expected to be completed sometime between June and August, and we hope that after August we could house in new families that could bring their children to enrol in this school,” he added.

-- BERNAMA