First Cohort Graduates from TAR UMT's Postgraduate Diploma in Education at Foon Yew High School

The first cohort of 27 teachers from Foon Yew High School to complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Education at TAR UMT celebrated their convocation on 27 July 2024. The ceremony took place at the Yang Wen Fu Auditorium in Foon Yew High School, Johor Bahru and was graced by Tan Sri Dato' Sri Liow Tiong Lai, member of the Board of Trustees of TARC Education Foundation, alongside Mr Tay Chin Hein, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Foon Yew High School, and Prof Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei, President of TAR UMT.

The teachers’ successful completion of the programme is the result of the collaboration between TAR UMT and Foon Yew High School formalised back in 2022 when TAR UMT introduced the Postgraduate Diploma in Education programme for Chinese Independent School teachers in Malaysia to enhance their professional skills and gain advanced qualifications recognised by the Malaysian Government. Foon Yew High School was among the first to collaborate with TAR UMT. To help support the teachers’ financially, TAR UMT offered a 30% discount on the total tuition fee for the programme. With the discount provided, the total tuition fee is RM10,038 as compared to the actual cost of RM13,683. To further help the school teachers in terms of financial support to pursue the programme, Lee Foundation Malaysia and Huaren Education Foundation provided financial aid valued at RM225,000 and RM175,000 respectively. This financial aid totaling RM400,000 is to support 100 Chinese Independent School teachers to pursue the postgraduate diploma programme. 

During his speech in addressing the graduates who achieved distinctions in their postgraduate diploma, Tan Sri Dato' Sri Liow said, "Being the first group to graduate with TAR UMT’s Postgraduate Diploma in Education, you have started the important momentum with the hopes that many more Chinese Independent School teachers will pursue the programme to achieve their aspirations as well. It is also our hope that through your success story, other organisations will come forth to provide financial aid so that we can help many more teachers to advance their qualification.”