More than 5,000 students would benefit from the “Rotary-CIMB Learning Hub” project that will kickstart on Thursday.

The learning hub is a platform where students and teachers could access learning resources to enhance teaching and learning process respectively and polish researching skills.

The project is undertaken by Rotary Club of Kinabalu Sutera (RCKS) and Rotary Club of Likas Bay’s (RCLB) in a smart partnership with CIMB Bank Berhad.

Project co-organising chairperson, Emily Chong, said that three suburban schools would benefit from the project namely SMK Kinarut (Papar), SMK Narinang (Kota Belud) and SMK Nambayan (Tambunan). 

Sabah Education Director Dr Mistirine Binti Radin and her deputy, Muarifin Sufianto Mochoeri were thoroughly briefed during a courtesy call on them where they show support with approval on the project.

The courtesy call was attended by President of RCKS, Francis Ng, President of RCLB, Leslie Yew, club members and CIMB Branch Manager, David Lo, of Bundusan branch. 

Ng and Yew said the clubs were fortunate to receive a 1:2 matching grant from CIMB Foundation worth RM30,000 that will benefit the three schools.

“In addition, the two clubs have agreed to top up the fund with RM7,500 that was raised from a previous joint advanced literacy project to make it a grand total of RM37,500,” said Emily, the co-organising chair. 

She said they hoped that the amount invested would be reciprocated with the current and future students easy access to information through the hub to its maximum potential to uplift the teaching and learning process.

She explained that advanced literacy is the club’s key area of focus in terms of education and providing equal opportunity and access to good education. 

“This project is unique and significant as it involves a sustainable and systematic approach involving multiple stages including professional development vocational training of teachers and subsequent transfer of information down to the students via educational resources and conducive learning environment provided through the CIMB and Rotary Learning Hubs project,” she said. 

The project foresees that it would benefit the community in the respective schools in the long run and that it would be reflected on the uplifting of academic standards of all three schools involved. 

“We are very grateful to be able to partner with CIMB in this noble endeavour to better equip our future generation with a learning hub so that they become adept in IT and cope with knowledge and economy-driven competitive world that we live in today.

“The first phase of the project will kickstart on Aug 1 starting with vocational training for teachers from the three selected schools,” she said.