Pengerang, Johor, 24 November 2016 – It is never too early to prepare for a new academic year. For some 550 students, here, this is especially true as they have received school supplies from PETRONAS to welcome the new school term.
The contribution, which is a part of PETRONAS' Back to School Programme, saw some 400 primary school students presented with school bags filled with stationeries, while 150 secondary students who excelled in the 2016 academic year, received vouchers worth RM250 each.
The programme is a PETRONAS Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiative and is part of a larger #ForPengerang effort, which aims at contributing to the community's well-being, education and environment in Pengerang.
Kota Tinggi District Officer, Mohd Noorazam Osman commended the company's commitment and efforts in promoting human capital development in communities where it operates.
"I wish to applaud PETRONAS for being a responsible corporate citizen, concerned about education in our communities around its Pengerang Integrated Complex (PIC) development, and for running this motivational programme for Pengerang students," said Mohd Noorazam.
On hand to present the Back to School contributions to the students was PETRONAS Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of PETRONAS Refinery and Petrochemical Corporation Sdn Bhd (PRPC), Ir Dr Colin Wong Hee Huing.
"We would like to congratulate the students who have worked hard this year and we hope that this contribution will encourage them to continue striving for excellent academic achievements for the new term and beyond," said Ir Dr Colin Wong.
The primary school students were from SK Bandar Penawar, SK Banadar Penawar 2, SK Felda Adela, SK Felda Sening, SK Lepau, SK Pengerang, SK Punggai, SK Sungai Kapal, SK Sungai Rengit, SK Tanjung Pengelih, SK Teluk Ramunia, SJKC Paey Min, SJKC Tai Sin and SJKC Yok Poon, while the secondary students were from SMK Adela, SMK Bandar Penawar, SMK Tanjung Datuk and SMK Tanjung Pengelih.
"I am very happy to receive the RM250 voucher from PETRONAS, because I can use it to buy many reference books as I prepare for my Form Three Assessment (PT3) next year," beamed a happy 14-year-old Nur Aina Safiqa Sahir from SMK Bandar Penawar.
Nur Aina Safiqa, who is aiming for 4 As for her PT3, thanked PETRONAS as the contribution would ease her parents' financial burden and help in her studies.
Eleven-year-old Nur Emily Irdina Rizalzulazri, of SJKC Yok Poon, echoed Nur Aina Safiqa's excitement and said: "I wish to thank PETRONAS for the beautiful school bag and stationery set; this came as a surprise to me."
Nur Emily Irdina, who spoke fluent Mandarin, showed remarkable improvement in her studies especially in English, climbing up from C to B.
"My target is to score 4 As in my Primary School Achievement Test (UPSR) next year, including English," she added.
Lee Chin Heng, 10, a student from SJKC Tai Sin whose grade went from B to A, said that the gift has made him look forward to start the new academic year.
"I will keep up my results because I want to come again to this PETRONAS event next year," said Lee, who treated the new set of school supplies as a reward for doing well in his studies.
SJKC Yok Poon Senior Assistant Teacher, Ng Wei Man commended PETRONAS for not only spurring economic growth within Pengerang via its PIC development, but also for caring about the education and well-being of the communities here via its CSI programme.
"PETRONAS' efforts in coming up with this Back to School programme is certainly commendable. Many of our students come from low income families, and a small gesture can make a big difference to these students and their families," he said.
Among the 550 recipients, 43 are also participants of Program Sentuhan Ilmu PETRONAS (PSIP), a long-term and sustainable initiative in support of the Government's efforts to help improve overall academic standards of underprivileged schoolchildren who are borderline performers in English, Science and Mathematics.
