KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (Bernama) -- RYTHM Foundation, the social impact initiative of the global conglomerate QI Group, has launched the ‘Sikulah Bateq’ (Bateq School) teaching module, a framework designed to support basic literacy and numeracy for Orang Asli preschool and early primary children.
RYTHM Foundation head Santhi Periasamy said the module integrating academic learning with essential life skills is crucial to the foundation’s mission to support and elevate Orang Asli communities through education.
“It is designed to engage Orang Asli children in meaningful learning experiences and foster a love for reading, writing and mathematics.
“By building these essential skills, we are laying the groundwork for their future success and well-being,” she said during the teaching module launch in Petaling Jaya on Tuesday.
On the same day, the foundation also hosted a ‘Roundtable Discussion on Indigenous Communities: Education & Livelihood’, addressing two critical challenges facing Malaysia’s indigenous communities.
The discussion, which included representatives from indigenous communities, civil society organisations, teacher training institutes, and public and private universities, highlighted the critical needs in education and livelihood for indigenous groups, underscoring the call for sustainable and inclusive solutions.
They also discussed job shortages, healthcare access and the necessity for comprehensive development plans to enhance the representation of Orang Asli communities.
With the indigenous communities facing challenges like job shortages and healthcare, the livelihood recommendations included creating detailed development plans for greater Orang Asli representation, promoting eco-tourism and respecting land rights.
Meanwhile, the panellists addressing the educational challenges primarily proposed providing hostels, improving transport, and using culturally relevant curricula for Orang Asli children while fostering stronger partnerships for better academic outcomes.
Santhi said the roundtable shared the foundation’s experiences, insights and challenges of working with and for indigenous communities in Malaysia.
She said the roundtable followed the success of RYTHM Foundation’s ‘Community Convention on the Indigenous in Malaysia’, held last year in partnership with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, which formulated more than 30 resolutions to address critical education, health, livelihood and statelessness issues.
Meanwhile, in her closing remarks, RYTHM Foundation chairperson Datin Seri Umayal Eswaran emphasised the importance of affirmative action by society, the education system and the employment sector for the Orang Asli.
“We have failed them (the indigenous). Greater efforts need to be made to ensure their inclusion and well-being.
“Malaysia’s indigenous communities are part of Malaysia, and Malaysia is part of them, and we should do everything we can to help them progress without destroying their culture, values and identity,” she said.
-- BERNAMA
