UniMAP Founds Libyan Arabic International School

5 February – Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) took the initiative to form the  UniMAP Libyan Arabic School especially for the education of the children of Libyan families who reside in Perlis.

UniMAP Vice Chancellor Brig. Jen. Datuk Prof. Emeritus Dr. Kamarudin Hussin said the idea of forming the private school was conceived upon seeing the need for a learning facility for the children of UniMAP international staff members and students.

“This is also a part of UniMAP's social responsibility especially to the large number students and staff members from the Arab countries who travelled to Perlis with their children.

“Considering the lack of international schools in Perlis and the nearest is located in Kedah,  therefore it is best that we found the UniMAP Libyan Arabic School,” he said in a speech at the inauguration of the school last night.

Also present were UniMAP Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic and International Datuk Prof. Dr. Zul Azhar Zahid Jamal, Assistant Vice Chancellor Corporate Communications Datin Prof. Dr. Zuraidah Mohd. Zin and the Director of the Centre of International Affairs Dr. Noorhafiza Mohamed.

The UniMAP Libyan Arabic School will offer nine grades of schooling for children aged between five to 16 years old.

Meanwhile, Principal of the UniMAP Libyan Arabic School Mr. Issa Alabiad said that the school uses a system and curriculum recognised by the Libyan government and will begin operations on 15 February 2016.

He explained that children of Libya citizens who are schooling here will receive full financial aid from the Libyan government and will have 18 teachers who are native speakers of the Arabic language.

“We expect 30 students consisting of children of UniMAP's international students and staff members especially from Libya, Yemen and Iraq to register and this number is expected to climb.

“We are grateful to the concern shown by the Vice Chancellor and the UniMAP Management by founding this school and I expect more students from Libya, Arabia and Yemen will choose UniMAP as an institution of higher education of their choice,” he said.

He added that there are plans to open Arabic language classes for the children of local employees at UniMAP and offer Arabic language courses to UniMAP staff members.