KOTA KINABALU (25/09/23): The Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language Learning (PPIB) at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has developed a Youth Literacy and Democratic Citizenship Education Module (UNDI18) to develop the potential of the nation’s youth to be mature and knowledgeable voters in line with the aspirations of ‘Malaysia Madani’.
The Dean of PPIB, Associate Prof. Dr. Lai Yew Meng said the module, which is scheduled for completion in December includes a series of sessions on democratic knowledge, constitutional understanding, training and evaluation.
“Increasing the political awareness of the youth target group is measured based on aspects of knowledge, attitude, skills and aspirations (KASA),” informed Dr. Lai, who is also the head of the project.
According to Dr. Lai, the module can be taken by various UNDI18 target groups to assess the existence of ‘democratic citizens’ who can exercise their power to vote to determine the political future of this country.
The project involved nine academics namely, Associate Prof. Dr. Anantha Raman Govindasamy, AP Dr. Mohd Azri Ibrahim, Dr. Kavitha Ganesan, Dr. Budi Anto Mohd Tamring, Dr. Shaffarullah Abdul Rahman, Dr. Mohd Hatib Ismail, Dr. Amy Azuan Abdullah and Mohammad Aqmal Hafidz Musa.
Dr. Lai hopes that the module will be able to increase the level of awareness and political literacy among the youth in Sabah in line with the Malaysian national philosophy.
Moreover, Associate Professor Dr Steward Giman ak Stephen from a Private Higher Education Institution welcomed the construction of the module as a way of creating a mature and knowledgeable electorate, with a special focus on final year students. – By Henry Bating & John Mark Storey
