For a bright future ahead: Khor (standing second from left) posing with (from third left) Abdul Manaf, Mohd Azren, Martin as well as teachers and pupils after the mock cheque presentation at SK Seksyen 6 in Kota Damansara.
PETALING JAYA: Admiration for her English teacher was the reason Mary Kay general manager (Malaysia and Singapore) Khor Lee Fan “fell in love” with the English language when she was a secondary school student at SMK Jalan Ipoh in Kuala Lumpur.
“Despite being a timid student, I joined the English debate team. That was when I discovered mastering English can give a person confidence.
“This is why we feel that the sponsorship of The Star’s Step Up education pullout is in line with Mary Kay’s go-give spirit to help people,” said Khor after handing over a mock cheque for RM40,000 at SK Seksyen 6, Kota Damansara, on Thursday.
This marks Mary Kay (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd’s fourth sponsorship of the Step Up pullouts.
On hand to receive the sponsorship of Step Up, an English-language educational resource for primary schools, was the school’s headmaster Abdul Manaf Ahmad. The aid was handed over by Star Media Group Circulation (Corporate and Special Projects) assistant manager Fabian Martin.
Apart from SK Seksyen 6, Kota Damansara, six other schools in Selangor – SK Seksyen 7, Kota Damansara; SK Seksyen 9, Kota Damansara; SK Seksyen 11, Kota Damansara; SK Bandar Utama Damansara 2; SK Lembah Subang and SK U3, Subang Perdana – will also benefit from the sponsorship.
Step Up is a 24-page educational workbook-cum-activity pullout designed for primary schools. It features Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese translation of difficult words.
Khor said the Step Up programme provides a fun way for schoolchildren to learn the English language besides promoting creativity and courage among them.
Thankful for Mary Kay’s sponsorship, headmaster Abdul Manaf said this was the first time the school had received such a sponsorship since he took the helm six years ago.
“Most of our pupils are from the B40 group. Having a sponsorship from Mary Kay can help improve the pupils’ command of English and bring new perceptions through fun learning.”
The Parent-Teacher Association chairman of the school, Mohd Azren Mohd Yusof, said Mary Kay’s presence in the school already helped pupils understand the “power of English”.
Year Five pupil Raees Nawfal Mohammad Rezal said he enjoys English classes, especially now that the Step Up pullouts are being used.
“I was a little afraid of English class at first but I have come to enjoy it because my teacher uses fun methods to teach us.”
Step Up is endorsed by the Education Ministry. For details on The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education school sponsorship programme, call The Star’s Customer Care Unit at 1300 88 7827 from Monday to Friday (9am to 5pm).
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