Yayasan PETRONAS

Where Good Flourishes

Sentuhan Ilmu Bridging the Online Learning Divide
BOLD Programme

BOLD child at learning

Sentuhan Ilmu Bridging the Online Learning Divide, or BOLD, is a comprehensive intervention programme under Yayasan PETRONAS with its implementation partner, MYReaders to address learning loss among high-needs students, caused by COVID-19. BOLD will provide 2,000 high-needs children from B40 communities with Internet-enabled devices, digital modules, and devices and a structured learning support programme with volunteer tutors.

The learning support programme is based on MYReaders’ Literacy Toolkit which is set in the Malaysian context and structured to help children build up foundational skills step-by-step through Phonics, Reading Fluency, and Comprehension.

To facilitate the learning support programme, a total of 1,600 volunteer tutors will be recruited and trained to deliver one-to-one remediation remotely via WhatsApp using the MYReaders Literacy Toolkit that contains practical tools to provide effective literacy intervention.

Why BOLD?

We are facing the biggest challenge in education and cannot just rely on schools to help our children. As individuals, we have a key role to play in helping these children gain foundational literacy effectively, through programmes which are structured and sustainable.

Children from low-income communities are disproportionately affected by learning loss due to COVID- 19. We need to be particularly concerned for children who are now in their foundational years. For students who are in Year 3 this year, missing out on school for just three months may result in 72% of students falling so far behind that by Form 4 they may drop out or not be able to learn anything in school.

As members of society, we need to act urgently and collectively to address the long-term negative effects of COVID-19 on Education.

BOLD Goals

Sentuhan Ilmu Bridging the Online Learning Divide (BOLD) will provide 2,000 underprivileged students with internet-enabled digital devices to engage in remote or hybrid learning and assist students with immediate learning support.

These actions will enable high needs students to participate in learning, catch up with their peers, and address learning losses caused by COVID-19 for a Malaysia where all students have equitable access to education.

BOLD
Target Outcomes

Our collective effort is set to create high social impact.

Together, we will enable these high needs students to address their learning loss and pursue long terms quality learning, through:

  • Increasing their reading proficiency through growing their word recognition and reading fluency skills.
  • Increasing their interest in STEM and scientific thinking skills

Frequently Asked Questions

On the BOLD Programme

Sentuhan Ilmu Bridging the Online Learning Divide, or BOLD, is a comprehensive intervention programme to address learning loss among high-needs students, caused by COVID-19. BOLD will provide 2,000 high-needs children from B40 communities with Internet-enabled devices, digital modules, and immediate learning support through volunteer tutors.

The BOLD Programme will provide 2,000 children with internet-enabled devices and a structured learning support programme. The learning support programme is based on MYReaders’ Literacy Toolkit which is set in the Malaysian context and structured to help children build up foundational skills step-by-step through Phonics, Reading Fluency, and Comprehension.

To facilitate the learning support programme, a total of 1,600 volunteer tutors will be recruited and trained to deliver one-to-one remediation remotely via WhatsApp or phone calls using the MYReaders Literacy Toolkit that contains practical tools to provide effective literacy intervention.

The BOLD Programme will provide students with 28 weeks of reading support and we require our volunteer tutors to commit to a minimum of 15 weeks (14 reading sessions + 1 introductory session). We gladly welcome you to volunteer beyond the 15 weeks with the same child.

Students’ progress in reading is measured through pre-reading and post-reading assessments. Assessments measuring each student’s growth in word recognition, reading fluency, and comprehension scores will be carried out virtually by trained assessors. We will also be capturing growth in students’ interest in learning through surveys.

Yayasan PETRONAS

Yayasan PETRONAS is the owner of the BOLD Programme. We are a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of PETRONAS. Our mission is to enrich lives for a sustainable future. We aim to deliver sustainable impact, improving the quality of life and socio-economic outcomes for communities across Malaysia through our focus areas in Education, Community Well-being and Development, and the Environment.

MYReaders

MYReaders is the implementation partner of Yayasan PETRONAS for BOLD. We are a non-profit organisation, registered under the Registrar of Societies Malaysia (ROS, No. PPM-014-10-11122015) on 11 December 2015. Our purpose is to enable children to achieve agency through literacy. Our mission is to empower children, through communities, by providing structured and sustainable reading programmes.

Volunteer Tutor Application and Requirements

Application can be made through bit.ly/BOLDVolunteer from November 2021 until 31st January 2022.

If you are an individual who wishes to address the current learning needs of children and create long-term impact among B40 communities, BOLD offers a fully supported opportunity to do so.

We are looking for individuals based anywhere in Malaysia who:

  • Are patient and able to work with children
  • Are familiar with WhatsApp & Google Drive
  • Are physically and emotionally able to commit to reading with a child for 90 minutes a week, for 14 weeks (in a span of 4 months)
  • Are proficient in English and able to communicate in BM and/or first language of community served
  • Have no criminal record, especially pertaining to the safety of children

You are only required to apply via the given link: bit.ly/BOLDVolunteer

No, you will be required to complete a Volunteer Tutors’ Training Module where you will be equipped with how to use the provided MYReaders teaching modules. These modules are designed to make it easy for volunteers with no teaching background to teach a child.

If you sign up as a volunteer tutor, you will be required to complete a series of self-declaration questions and provide your consent for the organiser to conduct a background check, if necessary.

This volunteering experience will give you the opportunity to create meaningful impact in the life of a child, while broadening your own worldview, as you journey with them over the course of 15 weeks. In addition, you will gain transferable skills to teach any child how to read, endorsed with an e-certificate by Yayasan PETRONAS.

You will receive an acceptance email from volunteer@petronas.com.my and you are required to confirm your availability for training and the programme. If you do not receive any email from BOLD within 20 business days of your application, your application may be considered unsuccessful.

Volunteer Tutor Expectations

To ensure that the learning support provided to students is of high-quality, all volunteer tutors are expected to complete a 1.5 hour self-paced Volunteer Tutor Training Module, attend a one-hour tutorial session, and participate in the official virtual onboarding session.

Upon completion of the above training, you will need to commit to a minimum of 15 consecutive weeks (14 reading sessions + 1 introductory session) with your assigned child. Each weekly reading session will be 1.5 hours, and volunteer tutors are highly encouraged to spend some time preparing for the session beforehand.

If selected, you will be provided with adequate training through a self-paced Volunteer Tutor Training Module and a hands-on tutorial session to enable you to practice in a safe environment. Details on this training will be provided once you are selected as a volunteer tutor. Throughout the programme, you will be assigned to a lead coordinator who will provide you with the necessary support, when needed.

Each volunteer tutor will be assigned to a Programme Coordinator who will monitor and track volunteer tutors’ and students’ progress on a weekly basis to offer feedback and support.

To ensure that we are accountable to our beneficiaries, a feedback/complaints mechanism will be established with the students and their parents, which may include feedback on their respective volunteer tutors.

Volunteer tutors will not be paid or be reimbursed for expenses incurred for the programme. As all BOLD activities will be conducted virtually, we do not expect volunteer tutors to incur significant expenses, aside from internet/mobile data and phone calls.

Volunteer Tutor Management

The set day and time will be decided in discussion with our school partners based on the students’ schedules. You can state your availability in the registration form and we will try our best to match you accordingly.

Yes, we understand that some circumstances cannot be avoided. Do inform your lead coordinator as soon as possible and they will coordinate with the parents to reschedule.

In the event it is absolutely unavoidable, please inform your lead coordinator as far in advance as possible along with a valid reason. You will be required to ensure all commitments prior to your dropping out are completed in order to ease the transition for the child and the programme.

Others

Please email us at volunteer@petronas.com.my for any further enquiries.

Please share this volunteering opportunity with those in your network who may be keen to volunteer

You may indicate your interest to be kept on our mailing list and stay tuned for a call to sign up as volunteer for other programmes through volunteer@petronas.com.my.

Your feedback will be reviewed promptly by Yayasan PETRONAS and MYReaders and handled with full confidentiality. We will acknowledge your feedback within 10 business days and revert with an official response soon after.