ROMPIN, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Education (MOE) has agreed to provide 10 optimist boats to develop student talent in sailing sports on Tioman Island here.
Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the ministry always supports the development of sports talents, especially in coastal and rural schools, by providing the necessary facilities.
She said that student success should not be limited to academic excellence alone but also through extracurricular activities and sports.
"Handling a sailing boat is not easy; it requires student strength and thorough training. However, we see great potential on Tioman Island, and they have the opportunity to elevate their talent to the next level, so MOE is helping by providing these boats," she said.
She told reporters this at the Parliament Follow-up Programme on Tioman Island here recently, which was also attended by Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh, Education director-general Azman Adnan and Pahang Education director Amzan Abd Malek.
At the programme, Fadhlina also watched a sailing demonstration by Muhammad Khairul Fazli Abdullah, 11, a student of Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Juara, Tioman Island.
She said her ministry is exploring opportunities to establish an MOE sailing sports training programme on the island. Additionally, the Pahang Education Department has been asked to identify the potential of students, including placing these talented athletes in sports schools.
She said teachers around Tioman Island interested in taking sailing sports coaching courses would be given opportunities to ensure the continued development of sailing sports here in the long term.
Fadhlina said students who live and grow up in coastal areas, especially on resort islands, have unique advantages that can be developed, particularly in beach sports.
"With these advantages, other beach sports such as beach volleyball and beach soccer can also be explored and developed here, and MOE is committed to developing this potential," she said.
During the visit, Fadhlina also inspected the infrastructure at SK Juara, which houses 50 students and 12 teachers, including a multipurpose court, a preschool playground, and a proposed teacher housing area.
During the two-day programme starting last Monday, students on the resort island also received donations in the form of learning necessities and reading materials.
The Parliament Follow-up Programme on Tioman Island was the second organised by MOE this year, after the first in Selangor, to make direct observations and assessments related to issues raised by members of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara during parliamentary sittings.
-- BERNAMA
