26/08/2025

TUESDAY | AUG 26, 2025

12

EDUCATION NEWS

Ű BY DHARSHINI GANESON

left, Amirudin feels cybersecurity training is vital towards building a safe ecosystem for Malaysia, seen here with Dr Sajilal at MOA signing with LSBF,KL.

disabilities and today the founder of Bizara, a school with 74 special needs students in Kota Bharu, Kelantan has built a reputation as an educator with creativity. Bizara’s name was specially chosen as it translates from an Arabic word, which means “sowing seeds” as Wan feels all the special needs children at his school will be given the opportunity to progress through story-telling, activities and also art training. Born to humble parents in rural Kelantan, who were rubber tappers, he was lucky to move to Klang to live with his brother, and from there he was exposed to urban schooling and community life. Wan successfully completed his degree in Arts and Design from UiTM, Shah Alam and it was here that Wan developed his distinctive creative style of teaching. It laid the foundation for the way he approached teaching his students, especially when he worked in an international private school for 13 L ONDON School of Business and Finance (LSBF) in Kuala Lumpur, signed a memoran dum of agreement with CyberSecurity Malaysia, under the Ministry of Digital to ensure their stu dents would be competent to meet the demands for a cyber-safe world, especially in safeguarding their com pany’s digital and financial assets. This would be achieved through a series of cybersecurity courses and training programmes designed under the global ACE certification framework, covering a range of courses such as cybersecurity governance and compliance, ethical hacking and penetration testing, advanced digital forensics and network security and risk management. The global ACE certification, which is Malaysian-established and internationally recognised, represents a framework for professional cybersecurity certification, aiming to validate the skills of cybersecurity professionals. It is currently managed by CyberSecurity Malaysia. LSBF College Malaysia director, Dr Sajilal Divakaran said: “Cybersecurity has become one of the most critical areas for both public and private sectors due to the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyber threats. “As part of LSBF Malaysia’s commitment to providing future ready education, launching cybersecurity courses is a strategic move to address the urgent need for qualified professionals in Malaysia’s digital economy. “This aligns with our mission to bridge skills gaps in emerging industries and to support the nation’s goal of becoming a regional leader in digital transformation.” Dato’ Dr Haji Amirudin Abdul Wahab, CEO of CyberSecurity Malaysia felt the collaboration was important and strategic in building

Building global cybersecurity

and competencies. “They will also enhance their digital literacy and technical expertise in digital literacy. “There is no doubt the certification, depending on the course they enrolled for, will improve their career mobility and opportunities, both in the private and public sector,” said Amirudin, who added that certification under Global ACE is recognised by the Malaysian Board of Technologists (MBOT) as a cybersecurity credential pathway towards becoming a professional technologist or certified technician.

provide a balance of theoretical knowledge and hands-on practice and the first batch of programmes will commence in October 2025, with continuous intakes planned throughout the year.” Amirudin added that in a growing global digitalised world, the recognition accorded to ACE certification enabled mutual recognition of certified professionals, across participating Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and ASEAN countries. “At the end of the programme, participants will gain a recognised certification that validates their skills

learning here. In our Farmazara garden, children walk among plants, climb the stairs to Bizara café, feel the breeze and quietly build balance, coordination and courage. “We use several kinds of swings to support body control and attention. Our swimming pool(waist to chest) depth builds confidence, breath control and whole-body strength, while gentle water features and aquariums provide the calming sound of running water. “In the Bizara kitchen, children are allowed to eat barefoot on clean floors to safely explore textures, and grounding, while mealtime routines also build manners, turn-taking and independence is developed through carrying trays, finding seats and cleaning up. Over time as Bizara grew, Wan shared that he joined Open University Malaysia (OUM) for a Master’s in Educational Leadership to anchor his work in research and governance. “The master’s programme helped me formalise Bizara’s instructional and integrative approaches. Now I am pursuing my doctorate to codify the Bizara model; so it can be trained, measured and scaled responsibly.” relevant to both global and industry needs,” he said. Dr Sajilal emphasised that LSBF’s cybersecurity and training courses were designed for a wide range of learners, including university graduates and students seeking to build careers in cybersecurity, IT professionals, mid-level managers and executives responsible for digital transformation and digital protection. “It would also benefit small and medium entreprises (SMEs) aiming to strengthen their cybersecurity posture,” he said. “Each programme is structured to

Banking & Finance Wan also shared that Bizara is run as a typical school from morning till 3.30pm. There are academic classes, homework, exams and report cards. Children join weekly assemblies, celebrate birthdays, enjoy their recess, play sports, learn outdoors, go on trips and perform concerts in halls for their families. “Activities are the engine of “I started Bizara in 2018, with just one student but today I employ 24 teachers in two centres, Tadika Sri Bizara, which provides early childhood education for children four to six years old and Bizara Intercare, which supports children 7 to 19 years old. “Both have different aims, Tadika Sri Bizara’s aim is to provide a fun, play-based and inclusive learning environment, that builds a strong foundation in academics, creativity and social skills. “Bizara Intercare uses an inclusive education approach, which integrates academics, life skills and therapy support where needed, ensuring that every student can learn and grow according to abilities,” he added. as well as strengthening Malaysia’s cybersecurity ecosystem. “Professionals who obtain this certification will benefit in multiple ways. Firstly, it provides recognition that they have met competency standards endorsed by Cybersecurity Malaysia. This aligns with national and international best practices. “Secondly, it enhances their employability and career prospects, particularly in a market where cybersecurity skills are in high demand. “Lastly it provides them with the confidence to apply practical knowledge and a framework that are

Educating special needs youngsters WAN ZAKARIA Wan Abu Bakar, 43 yrs, believes all children can be educated despite their handicaps and years, earning a reputation for working closely with children of mixed abilities. Ű BY DHARSHINI GANESON

Wan believes that all special needs children, regardless of their shortcomings can be educated, love and patience are the ingredients to their success.

he himself is not a parent of a special child. “You don’t need to have a special needs child to care deeply; you need conviction, humility and the patience to do the work. I don’t see labels. I see potential. My job is to create an environment for that potential to grow,” added Wan with a smile lighting up his face.

Wan also added animal petting sessions, using rabbits, fish and a turtle, for students to build empathy, and reduce fear at the same time and he discovered many students did benefit from their experiences. While many parents are appreciative of his style and creativity, many wonder why Wan puts so much of his heart and soul into Bizara, when

Education News/Health & Wellness TUES

ESG

Property

WED

MON

THUR