Nalanda Buddhist Society

Nalanda Buddhist Society was established and registered with the Registrar of Societies in 2003, with the objective of providing moral education to the local Buddhist community, and to promote harmonious living with all communities in the country. In pursuit of these objectives, a series of initiatives were launched by the Society over the years.

In 2005, the Nalanda Dharma School for teenagers was launched. It operates every Sunday and has an annual enrolment of 45 students ranging from ages 12 to 19. The School provides moral and spiritual education to her students, with the goal of establishing them as successful and upright future leaders of the community. Now in its sixth year, Nalanda Dharma School, with its innovative approach to holistic education and emphasis on experiential learning, has been recognised as one of the best in Malaysia.
As an extension of our services to the community, the Nalanda Institute was established in 2007. The Institute offers courses and training programmes free-of-charge to the general public

With our experience in providing training and educational services, coupled with a qualified and committed pool of volunteers, Nalanda has extended our services by providing free tuition to school-going students in the vicinity of Serdang-Seri Kembangan through the Nalanda Free School Project.

Nalanda Free School Project

The “Nalanda Free School” is a long-term project initiated by Nalanda Buddhist Society to leverage upon our organizational strengths to further extend our educational services to the general public.

The population in and around Seri Kembangan (including Serdang, Bandar Kinrara and Putra Permai) is estimated at 450,000 in 2010, and increasing at a rate of 5% annually. The demographic profile of this population includes a large number of young families with school-going children. There is therefore a great need for educational services, especially with a moral component, to equip our future generations with strong foundations for their successful growth and development.

Focus group

Our focus group for this project are needy students – especially those from lower household income groups of less than RM3,000 a month, children of single-parents, and students recommended by their respective school principals or teachers. We gladly accept all students from any religious backgrounds. The Free School Project aims to benefit needy students from all ethnic groups.

Educational Philosophy

We believe that “the Heart of Education is Education of the Heart”.

A well-educated person is one who has the necessary knowledge and skills to operate successfully in worldly life, with compassion, generosity and high moral values to benefit his country and community. Hence, the education we provide has a moral component that makes it holistic.

Community Initiative

We believe in the power of volunteerism and selfless service. Hence, Nalanda Free School will be largely operated by volunteer teachers. Nalanda staff members will provide the necessary administrative support in the School operations. Our operational philosophy is “voluntary service for the community”.

Project Stages

The project is divided over 3 Stages. We hereby would like to highlight only Stage 1, which is further divided into three phases:

Stage 1, Phase 1
Initiation date : 1 June 2010
Completion date : 30 November 2010
Targets :
To have 5 volunteers teachers teaching 3 core language subjects (i.e. Bahasa Malaysia, English and Mandarin) to a combined number of 100 primary and secondary school students. [An average of 20 students per class.]

Process :
1. Establishment of infrastructure and systems to manage the School, with appointed volunteers looking into its management and operations.
2. Recruitment and orientation for volunteer teachers who are able to commit throughout the school year (from January to November yearly).
3. Publicity to the general public through mass and social media, for the recruitment of students.
4. Operate classes on weekday evenings at Nalanda Centre.
5. Nalanda staff will provide administrative support to the teachers (and students), at the same time monitoring the classes to ensure high standards of delivery, safety of teachers and students, and effectiveness of the lessons.

Actual Performance :
The actual achievement is slightly above our targets : there were six volunteer teachers conducting six classes on Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin and Accounting to 109 students (comprising 86 primary school and 23 secondary school students).

Stage 1, Phase 2
Initiation date : 1 December 2010
Completion date : 31 May 2011
Targets :
To have 15 volunteers teachers teaching 3 core language subjects (i.e. Bahasa Malaysia, English and Mandarin), 3 science subjects (Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry), and 3 other elective subjects to a combined number of 300 primary and secondary school students. [An average of 20 students per class.]

Process :
1. Further improve upon the established infrastructure and systems to manage the School, with appointed 3 dedicated volunteer and staff looking into its management and operations.
2. Recruitment and orientation for volunteer teachers who are able to commit throughout the school year (from January to November yearly).
3. Publicity throughout the year to the general public through mass and social media, for the recruitment of students.
4. Operate classes on weekday evenings and weekend afternoons at Nalanda Centre.
5. Nalanda staff will provide administrative support, and at the same time monitor the classes to ensure high standards of delivery, safety of teachers and students, and effectiveness of the lessons.

Actual Performance :
The actual achievement has exceeded our targets and the School is running at full capacity now: there are currently twenty two volunteer teachers conducting twenty classes on Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin, Mathematics, Accounting, Biology, Chemistry to 391 students (comprising 221 primary school ad 170 secondary school students). In addition, fourteen volunteer facilitators were recruited to assist in the management and operations of the tuition classes.

Stage 1, Phase 3
Initiation date : 1 June 2011
Completion date : 31 December 2011
Targets :
To have 20 volunteers teachers teaching 3 core language subjects (i.e. Bahasa Malaysia, English and Mandarin), 4 science subjects (Mathematics, Biology, Physics and Chemistry), and 5 other elective subjects to a combined number of 400 primary and secondary school students. [An average of 20 students per class.]

Progress update :
The School has exceeded this target earlier during Phase 2. The focus of Phase 3 is therefore to ensure consistent provision of quality education.

Desired Outcome
The key desired outcomes of the project are as follows:

• Needy students enrolled for the free classes will have significant improvement in their academic results.

• Students will receive good moral guidance so as to display responsible public behaviour and develop self-confidence and discipline.

• Volunteer teachers will enjoy satisfaction from their contribution and further develop altruistic behaviour to help the community.

Periodic Review
Students’ academic and social progress are monitored and guided by their class teachers periodically. Furthermore, volunteer teachers are motivated and assisted by Nalanda staff members and project coordinators so that they remain highly motivated in guiding their charges.

Extended Services under Free School
As planned, Nalanda Free School extended its services in the following areas in 2011:

• Organize seminars and counselling for teachers, parents and students to improve their teaching/learning abilities.
• Learning Technique Workshop on 13 March 2011, attended by 22 students
• English Language Workshop on 30 April 2011, attended by 25 students
• Holiday camps to develop independence and leadership skills amongst students of various ages.
• Learning Camp from 30 May to 1 June 2011, attended by 25 students
• To register new classes especially catered for autistic children and children with lower learning capabilities who require special care and nurturing.
• 3 weekly tutorial classes for children who require special care and nurturing.

In the future, Nalanda Free School will gradually broaden its services in the following areas as the opportunity arises:

• To set up a well-stocked reference library especially for students facing public examinations such as UPSR, PMR, MUET, SPM and STPM (Stage 2 Medium-term plan, 2012-2013).

• To offer language and communication classes to adults to further their competencies at work or in their further studies (Stage 2 Medium-term plan, 2012-2013).

• To establish a well-equipped Children’s Library for the local community residing in Serdang-Seri Kembangan (Stage 3 Long-term plan, post 2014).

Sources of Funding
Nalanda Free School 2011 expenditure budget forecast is RM80,000. Currently, funding for the Nalanda Free School Project is derived from Nalanda Buddhist Society’s coffers. However, it is largely inadequate to cover the projected operation costs and expansion programmes. Hence, we would like to solicit grants and donations from like-minded foundations, organizations and individuals for the long-term viability and success of this noble project.

Fund Raising Plan
Nalanda Buddhist Society employs various fund-raising events to finance its educational programmes offered to the public. One of the major fund raising events set for this year is the “Family Fun Fair” on 16 October 2011. The Society aims to attract 3,000 participants during the day.

The Chairman of the Family Fun Fair is Mr. Lee Teck Beng, the Vice President of Nalanda Buddhist Society. Within the Family Fun Fair Organizing Committee, a sub-committee is formed with an intention to raise RM25,000 to partially cover the Nalanda Free School’s expenditure from for 2011. The Sub-Committee comprises youth aged 18 to 35, led by Ms. Nandini Tan Meng Fong, the Coordinator of Nalanda Free School Project, and supported by a group of volunteer teachers and students of the School.

Under the mentoring of the Chairman, the Sub-Committee plans to achieve the RM25,000 target by setting up 10 booths, comprising:

1. A booth to promote Nalanda Free School services and to provide information and solicit public donation.
2. 4 booths selling food and beverages.
3. 3 booths selling sponsored merchandise.
4. 2 booths offering children’s games.

Request for Financial Support

We would like to humbly request Magnum Corporation Sdn. Bhd. to match funds raised by the Family Fun Fair Sub-Committee dollar for dollar up to a maximum of RM25,000. The proceeds and the donation will enable us to fully concentrate on recruiting and training human resources, as well as the providing of services so as to achieve the Free School educational objectives.

	Member 1 - TEAM LEADER Name : Tan Meng Fong, Nandini Age : 34 Profile : Degree in Economics Coordinator of Nalanda Free School
	Member 2 - DEPUTY LEADER Name : Ong Huey Chian, Sunanda Age : 32 Profile : Teacher at Nalanda Free School Education : Degree in Economics; Diploma in Pre-school Education
	Member 3 Name : Lim Chaun Age : 32 Profile : Teacher at Nalanda Free School Education : Masters in Pre-school Education
	Member 4 Name : Ng Chwee Fang Age : 35 Profile : Teacher at Nalanda Free School Education : Masters in Modern Language Studies
	Member 5 Name : Khong Mun Hoe, Nicholas Age : 26 Profile : Teacher at Nalanda Free School Education : Pursuing Ph.D in Medical Biotechnology, UPM
	Member 6 Name : Chong Pui Kuan, Adrienne Age : 32 Profile : Teacher at Nalanda Free School Education : Degree in Mass Media
	Member 7 Name : Tan Poh Chuan Age : 23 Profile : Teacher at Nalanda Free School Education : Degree in Accounting
	Member 8 Name : Yap Sze Yinn Age : 18 Profile : Teacher at Nalanda Free School Education : Pursuing Degree in Modern Language Studies, UPM