Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun (seated on chair, fourth from right) after launching the programme. On his left is plant director Matan Raj.
SEREMBAN: The Negri Sembilan government wants to work with industries to help needy students and at the same time reduce truancy and absenteeism in schools, says Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.
The Mentri Besar said his administration, through state agency Invest NS, hopes to work with them as part of their corporate social responsibility programme.
Invest NS was set up to help investors draw up new projects or expand existing operations in the state.
“Although the rate of absenteeism in the state is about 8%, we want to reduce this to zero.
“Children should be attending school regularly or they will be left behind in this ever-increasingly competitive environment,” he said after launching Kellanova’s “Breakfast for Better Days” programme at SK Tekir at the Kg Tekir Orang Asli village in Labu near here.
Aminuddin said these industries can “adopt” schools and help students in many ways such as providing meals and incentives to attend school, offering rewards for academic excellence and helping organise programmes with district education offices.
He said by doing so, they were also investing in human capital development and character building.
“It will be good if they (industries) can give us this commitment and do their bit for society.
“Who knows? Maybe the student from the school you have been helping will one day hold an important position in your company,” he said.
Aminuddin commended Kellanova, an American multinational food manufacturing company operating at Bandar Enstek near here since 2013, for holding the year-long “Breakfast for Better Days” programme.
He said this had, among other things, helped increase attendance at the 77-year-old school which has an enrolment of 100 pupils from the Orang Asli community.
The attendance has increased to 70% from a low of 30% some time ago.
Earlier, plant director Matan Raj said through the programme, the company provides breakfast such as cereals to the students to motivate them to attend classes.
He said this was also part of the company’s “Better Days Promise” initiative which includes nourishing people with its food products and feeding those in need.
“We picked this school after we learnt of the problem of truancy and absenteeism.”
“Apart from the breakfast programme, Kellanova has also been rewarding pupils who attend school regularly and those who excel academically.
“We hold lucky draws where we give them bicycles, among others,” he said.
It had also organised fun learning and interactive programmes with the participation of parents and teachers, he added.
