SHAH ALAM: The empowerment of creative writing among schoolchildren needs to be improved from time to time through clear planning and strategy so that the talents of these young people can be marketed to local and international markets, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.

She said the success of five young writers from the Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Art School (SSeM) in producing five books, written in English, as well as their attractive visual arts prove that the learning process under the Ministry of Education (MoE) successfully unearths and nurtures the talents of students.

She noted that the success of coming out with these books through the Young Emerging Talent programme, with the cooperation of the National Book Council of Malaysia and SSeM, was also the result of support of the parents as well as interest and close cooperation from all parties in ensuring the sustainability of the production of existing talents towards the world market.

Fadhlina, who was speaking at the launch of the five books in conjunction with the Selangor International Book Fair here today, said it is not impossible that the SSeM will function as a reference centre for the production of artwork among students in the future.

"This effort needs to be expanded and developed further so that other students in this country can emulate the success of the SSeM students. It is our hope at the MoE that this initiative be continued so that the existing talent among students can be enhanced, then marketed to the local and international markets," she said.

The five young writers are 13-year-old Ainur Safeeya Uzma Erfieza who produced 'Reminiscing the Old Days'; Nur Balqis Faqihah Norlihakie, 16, ('My Hero! The Time Traveller'); Sarah Hanina Nadhrah Ahmad Patria, 16, ('Valentine is a Tenacious Girl'); Alisha Nabeeha Azhar, 16, ('My Teacher') and Batreysa Nortajuddin, 16, ('My Father's Culture').

Earlier, all of them had successfully exhibited their works at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany from Oct 19 to 23, in addition to having the opportunity to gain experience in matching transactions, negotiating copyright transactions, and licensing works to hone their writing talents more professionally.

--BERNAMA



TAGS: Fadhlina Sidek, books, schoolchildren, Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Art School, international markets