[PENANG] "SPEAK UP" BETTER ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AND STEM EDUCATION STARTS HERE

THE PROBLEM

Quality of education is a foundation of the development of society and as a developing nation, Malaysia is in need of a strong and sustainable education system to equip its young citizens with knowledge, values, and skills for more life opportunities. While the Malaysian population that has received higher education has grown throughout the years, Malaysian students are falling behind their peers in the country's regional neighbors. English proficiency and STEM knowledge are two important factors of employability in the 21st century. In order to increase the number of young Malaysians with the necessary skills for employment in today's world, the Malaysian education system needs to resolve the following issues:

1.) Students' low English proficiency level due to the quality of national English language education.

2.) Students' subpar performance in applying science and mathematics knowledge.

3.) The gap in education quality between states and within states across Malaysia.

THE SOLUTION

Speak Up is a project that addresses Sustainable Development Goals 4 Quality Education in youths across Malaysia. We aim to create an impact on a local level towards SDG Target 4.4 - by 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship by providing an online learning platform for young people on personal development and STEM education opportunity (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) towards underprivileged high school students (B40 groups).

The project consists of several components for both secondary school students and volunteers.

1st - Train the Trainer (TtT) 

Which aims to equip our volunteers with enough knowledge and skills before conducting a series of workshops with the kind help of our partners from Teach For Malaysia (TFM), Penang Science Cluster (PSC), and Penang Math Platform (PMP).

2nd - Online Workshops 

Which aims to raise awareness regarding the importance of English Speaking, boost up students’ confidence in speaking English, and realizing the importance of STEM through fun and interactive activities between volunteers and students.

3rd - Speak Up Podcast

Which aims to increase stronger understanding about education in Malaysia and in the world through a series of Speak Up podcasts.

4rd - Action Initiative Planning 

Which aims to evaluate the project deliverables and impacts, and to ensure the sustainability of our impacts even if the projects have ended with the school teachers,  volunteers, and our committees.

5th - Virtual Global Village 

Which aims to foster cultural exchange with the  participation of International AIESEC partner by  showcasing their food, cultural elements from their home country and conducting discussion space regarding the global issue that happens around the world

THE IMPACT

Speak Up has reached more than 800  Volunteers, 160 Secondary Schools, and 2,200 Secondary Students. More than 83% of these stakeholders have ranked our project with a score of 8 out of 10, and more than 76% of the Secondary Students have ranked themselves more confident in using English for daily interaction with peers (7 out of 10), some of them even become the Committee of the Toastmaster Club which reveals that what Speak Up brings to them is not just about short-term change but a long-term impact.

'Contribute and do your part now'