'School' comes alive at three government hospitals

KUALA LUMPUR: The "School Within Hospital" pilot project was officially launched yesterday at three government hospitals -- Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Ampang and Serdang hospitals.

The project will allow children admitted to hospitals to continue getting formal education.

Called "Hati Nurani project", it is the brainchild of Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman.

Muhyiddin said through the programme, children no longer had to miss out on their studies while parents did not have to worry about their children not attending classes.

"As a father, I understand the concerns faced by parents whose children are treated in hospitals for a long duration. This is especially worrying for those whose children are going to sit for major examinations," he said when launching the programme at Kuala Lumpur Hospital's Paediatric Institute.

Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, added that well-to-do parents could afford to send their children for tuition to make up for the "missed lessons" but for others, this would mean their children would lag behind in their studies.

The programme was introduced two weeks ago at the hospitals.

"This is a good starting point. We will look at their results because the same teachers will be teaching different subjects. The education is also based on fun education."

He also said a similar concept had been adopted for juvenile offenders at the Henry Gurney School which now had 700 students.

The project, a collaborative effort between Nurul Yaqeen Foundation, Education Ministry and the Health Ministry, will be monitored for six months before it is launched at other government hospitals nationwide.

Classes for preschoolers, primary and secondary school patients will be held following the national education syllabus.

The teachers will also provide lessons for bedridden patients.

Noorainee said the project was close to her heart after witnessing young patients missing out on their studies due to health problems.

She said the Education Ministry had placed 16 teachers and four assistants at the three hospitals to help the children.

"I hope the project can serve as a channel for all to have easy access to education in any condition. This will help to create a knowledgeable society." 

Apart from classrooms, teachers' rooms, computers, televisions, a pantry, a playing area and a reading corner would also be provided. 

Committee members of Yayasan Nurul Yaqeen visited the New Children Hospital in Westmead, Sydney Children Hospital and the Royal North Shore Hospital, all in Australia last year to learn more about the system which had been established there since the 1930s.