Teachers and art practitioners practising a dance routine during the recent Kelab YSD-Kakiseni Junior incubation session in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: KakiSeni Junior
Thirteen artists and 32 teachers from 16 participating schools nationwide underwent a recent week-long Kelab YSD-Kakiseni Junior 2023 arts incubation programme in Kuala Lumpur.
The initiative, funded by Yayasan Sime Darby (RM1.3mil), aims to enhance the understanding of the arts and develop a deeper appreciation for its importance in school life.
Each participating school in the programme has been paired with a visual artist or performing arts practitioner, who will play a central role in running the Kelab YSD-Kakiseni Junior 2023 activities.
In the coming months, the teachers in the programme will create a series of arts and creative projects, and connect them with the performing artists and visual artists.
"The resident artistes, serving as mentors and collaborators, play an instrumental role in working closely with the teachers to develop and enhance art curricula," says Low Ngai Yuen, president of Kakiseni, at a recent Kelab YSD-Kakiseni Junior panel event at the National Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur.
The teachers and artists involved in the project (from left): Muhammad Azrul, Norafizah, Lim and Faizatul. Photo: The Star/Azman Ghani
"They are also responsible for building the capacity of the teachers, ensuring that they are equipped with the skills and knowledge to sustain the impact of arts education in their schools, whether enhancing existing art clubs or establishing new ones," she adds.
The panel also saw Muhammad Azrul Aziizi Mohamed Yusof (teacher from SK Kem Gerakhas, Melaka) and Norafizah Mohd (teacher from SK Pusat Kuala Ibai, Terengganu) in attendance, alongside arts practitioners such as Lim Ee Sim (artist for SMK Limbanak, Sabah), and Faizatul Akmal Abdullah (artist for SK Seberang Jaya, Penang).
“When we first started, many of the students were shy to express themselves, because their friends would tease them for being into things like theatre or dance. So I’d like to address this stigma by showing the students what they can achieve with their talents,” says Faizatul.
Besides giving students early exposure to the world of art and performing arts, Kelab YSD-Kakiseni Junior also welcomes parents to join the arts classes for children, making it a family activity.
The Kelab YSD-Kakiseni Junior 2023 programme involves 16 schools nationwide. Photo: KakiSeni Junior
The list of participating schools in the Pilot Club category: SK Bandar Baru Sentul, SK Seri Tasik and SMK Bandar Baru Seri Petaling in the Klang Valley. The rest include: Johor: SK Taman Pulai Emas, Kedah: SK Temonyong, Langkawi, Kelantan: SK Machang 1, Melaka: SK Kem Gerakhas, Negri Sembilan: SK Salak Nama, Rembau, Pahang: SMK Tanjong Lumpur, Kuantan, Perlis: SMK Datuk Jaafar Hassan, Penang: SMK Seri Bayu, Perak: SK Iskandar Perdana, Sabah: SMK Limbanak, Penampang, Sarawak: SK Sri Simalajau, Terengganu: SK Pusat Kuala Ibai and W.P. Labuan: SK Sungai Bedaun.
On Dec 27, the Kelab YSD-Kakiseni Junior Workbook will be available for download from the Kakiseni Junior website for free. The workbook presents a series of activities and writing activities that teachers/educators can use to get school children interested in literary, visual and performing arts.
Next year, the Kelab YSD-Kakiseni Junior programme will be widened, with more schools added on.
Kakiseni Junior is an initiative by Kakiseni, which was established in 2001.
