Launch of Lifelong Learning Campaign and its achievements
1. Aware of the importance of lifelong learning, MCA, in October 2004, had taken the initiative to launch a nation-wide campaign in promoting Lifelong Learning. The objectives of the Campaign are clear: nurture a progressive Rakyat Malaysia and embed a learning culture in the community. MCA firmly believe that, lifelong learning is the inevitable and pragmatic approach that empowers the nation with knowledge and competency to cope with challenges in today’s knowledge-based economy. As such, Lifelong Learning Campaign has been incorporated as one of the key political platform of MCA, namely the 9-Point Political Platform.
2. As a matter of fact, over the past three years, we have devoted ourselves to work towards achieving these objectives. We have been vigorously encouraging our fellow communities and nation to embrace the idea of lifelong learning in various manners, for instance inculcate a positive learning mindset, promote reading habits and encourage adult attending short courses.
3. Through the extensive programmes in raising awareness of lifelong learning, the communities are now familiar with the concept of lifelong learning and its significance.
4. Take the example of the short courses organised by both Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman and Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman, we have seen a major increase in the number of participants since the launch of Lifelong Learning Campaign. 61,003 of participants completed 1,270 short courses and workshops over the past three years in the extension education centres under these two institutions.
5. These results have demonstrated that, our communities are actually keen to learn and willing to adapt a new lifestyle that blend in learning in their everyday lives.
6. In 2006, the Government has incorporated Lifelong Learning as the key strategy to strengthen human capital development and nurture “first class mentality” under the 9th Malaysia Plan. And the newly introduced National Higher Education Strategic Plan and the National Higher Education Action Plan 2007-2010 reaffirmed the importance of lifelong learning in national development, where the Government will implement strategies and incentives to encourage lifelong learning. MCA will use its best endeavour, which it has done so for the past 3 years, to support and complement Government effort in promoting lifelong learning.
Establishing and strengthening Lifelong Learning Centres
7. Thus far, MCA has laid foundation for the implementation of lifelong learning. In moving forward, our action plan will be establishing and strengthening the community-based lifelong learning centre.
8. When we highlight the importance of lifelong learning implementation at the community levels, it means that learning resources and opportunities have to be existing and accessible in the neighbourhood areas. As what we have seen from the models of Hong Kong, Japan, Britain and other developed region and countries, community learning centres are the key stone in building lifelong learning culture.
9. In other words, learning programmes ought to be situated in locations conveniently access by learners and in a friendly environment. This will help adult learners, whom mostly have left schools for years, to overcome barriers to attend courses. On the other hand, by having learning resources just around the corner in the community, it also serves to meet the learning needs of the local residents, which in a way it will encourage them to adopt a learning lifestyle.
Model of Lifelong Learning Network
10. It is upbeat to see overwhelming response to the Lifelong Learning Campaign. Nevertheless to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of transforming our communities into a learning society, we have to move to the 2nd Stage of the Lifelong Learning Campaign—where there is a standard model of operation that can incorporate more partners to jointly promote lifelong learning and, allow learners to have better access to community learning centres. This model is known as Lifelong Learning Network model.
Lifelong Learning Centre
11. Under this model, Lifelong Learning Centre at the community level is significant to transform our community into a learning society. It is the convergence of lifelong learning resources, where the instructors and learners have the platform to teach and learn. This thus allows us to take care of the benefits of both learners and learning providers. By focusing on short courses and non-formal programmes, the Lifelong Leaning Centre complement to the formal education in academic and skill.
12. We will identify and set up Lifelong Learning Centres based on a few criteria, such as easily accessible and equip with facilities that is conducive to facilitate learning. The Centres will be operating under a set of standard model, where in future others can simply follow suit to set up Lifelong Learning Centres. This helps to develop more learning opportunities.
Lifelong Learning Partner and Lifelong Learning Community
13. In addition to the Lifelong Learning Centre, we have another two components that support and complement each other. They form the solid ground of lifelong learning networks. We have Lifelong Learning Partners as one of the clusters. Partners are those of the learning institutions, or organizations that are able and willing to offer their services, products or premises that are relevant to lifelong learning programmes.
14. Another component is known as Lifelong Learning Community, which the local MCA and NGOs will play a major role in fostering a learning community that focuses on community-oriented programmes such as public talks, leisure activities, voluntary and charitable activities and reading clubs.
15. When there are more activities and short courses conducted through the lifelong learning networks, we certainly need more trainers that can commit themselves to contribute in community teaching. I urge more trainers and experts in their respective fields to come forward and join us in the Lifelong Learning Centres.
16. Therefore, while we strive to set up more Lifelong Learning Centres, we also wish to consolidate existing resources by building a network of lifelong learning, where we have various components that each play a different role, and yet contribute from different areas with the same objective of promoting lifelong learning.
First Lifelong Learning Centre in Shopping Mall
17. Ladies and gentlemen, today, we are here to witness the opening of South City Lifelong Learning Centre. This is the pilot project that demonstrates the model of the lifelong learning network. This Centre, being the first Lifelong Learning Centre situated in the shopping mall, it signifies that learning opportunities exist in all places, even in the shopping mall where we generally do not regard it as a place for attending classes.
18. By bringing learning programmes into the shopping mall, this will definitely help to facilitate learning opportunities, where the community will get themselves a step closer to lifelong learning, as shopping mall is the place where people from all walks of life converge.
19. This pilot project involves three parties, namely MCA, Star Publications and South City. With the strengths of these three parties in different areas, for example the community network of MCA, media network of Star and venue provision of South City Plaza, I believe that, it offers a leading example of an integrated network of lifelong learning in the country. The benefits flows from this collective effort are threefold: first: easy accessibility, second: courses are of quality and relevance, and third: at affordable fees.
20. I am glad to see that South City Plaza has devoted to nurturing a lifelong learning society by generously providing space and facilities for setting up the Lifelong Learning Centre. The Star Publications too has shown its commitment in promoting lifelong learning by sponsoring a full page Sunday editorial featuring on lifelong learning. And the Chinese media as well, which has always given full support to the implementation of lifelong learning. We will continue to work closely with them and all other media to promote lifelong learning.
21. As I have always emphasized, lifelong learning does not belong to any single community or any particular organization. In fact, it belongs to everyone who has the desire to learn, the passion to teach, and the will to put in effort in shaping a learning society. On behalf of MCA, I pledge more organizations to join us and we work hand in hand to set up Lifelong Learning Centre, be it in a shopping mall, in the office premise, in library or in a residential area. In this connection, we welcome the 19 private institutions of higher learning that had given us great support when the Campaign was launched. By following the standard network model, any interested organizations can come forward to engage themselves to become a Lifelong Learning Centres.
Learning Directory
22. Besides organizing learning programmes and establishing Lifelong Learning Centres, we have also compiled information of learning programmes and publish it, which is known as the Learning Directory. The Learning Directory acts as the “Yellow Pages” for short courses, which provides all range of learning opportunities offered by mostly non-profit organizations and MCA. It covers listing of short courses, which are of flexible learning options. Learning short courses are the most practical approach in encouraging adult learners to embrace lifelong learning.
23. This 3rd issue of the Learning Directory comprises of more than 500 listings of programmes that are available throughout the country in the 4th quarter of 2007. We have received feedback from the public that they accessed to lifelong learning through the Learning Directory. It is indeed delighting to know that the Learning Directory serves its purposes, which not only provide learning information but also create a learning urge.
Concluding remarks
24. Ladies and Gentlemen, we are all familiar to the idea of lifelong learning. And, we would never deny the importance of embracing lifelong learning and its implication on the national development. However, what brings us here is our passion for implementing lifelong learning and the urge to see it turns into a reality from solely a vague concept. I have faith that with our collective effort, we will definitely able to see more Lifelong Learning Centres will be established throughout the country. More significantly, our people instill the attitude of never stop learning and willing to learn.
25. The opening of South City Lifelong Learning Centre sets the tone for the coming more lifelong learning centres. It is definitely not the only, but it marks the milestone of Lifelong Learning Campaign that will progress towards a consolidated and deepening network of lifelong learning.
26. With great honour, I hereby declare the official opening of South City Lifelong Learning Centre. Thank you.