SCHOOL CO-OPS CAN BOOST REGIONAL COLLABORATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP - ANGKASA

BUTTERWORTH, Jan 12 (Bernama) — The National Cooperative Movement (ANGKASA) sees significant potential to enhance resource and expertise sharing among cooperatives in ASEAN and Asia, especially involving school cooperatives, following the success of school cooperatives in Malaysia.

ANGKASA president and ASEAN Cooperative Organisation (ACO) president Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Fattah Abdullah said 37 school cooperatives under the Education Ministry (MoE), including 19 daily schools, vocational colleges and religious schools, as well as 18 school cooperatives under the MARA Science Colleges (MRSM), have achieved over RM1 million in revenue, with one cooperative reaching RM2 million.

He said these achievements have served as a model for international communities to develop school cooperatives in their respective countries.

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“For example, two school cooperatives have been successfully established in Cambodia, namely Norol Iman High School Cooperative and An-Nikmah School Cooperative.

“This is a point of pride because without the continuous efforts of teachers and students, such success would not be possible,” he said in a statement today.

He believes that establishing more school cooperatives abroad could open opportunities for strategic and regional business cooperation among cooperatives.

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It would also enhance entrepreneurial skills among students through cross-border business experiences, ultimately contributing to the future growth of school cooperatives, he added.

Abdul Fattah, who is also the Vice President of the International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP), called on school cooperatives nationwide to actively contribute to the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) 2025.

He said this aligns with the IYC 2025 theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World,” which emphasises school cooperatives as essential platforms in shaping young people to be not only cooperative-literate but also ready to contribute to the socio-economic development of both the nation and globally.

He added that IYC 2025 is also seen as an excellent opportunity to strengthen the role of school cooperatives in fostering entrepreneurship and quality human capital.

“Through the IYC 2025 celebration, school cooperatives are encouraged to explore entrepreneurial opportunities through programmes and activities organised by the government.

“… (this is) in collaboration with the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP), ANGKASA as the apex body of the cooperative movement, the Cooperatives Commission of Malaysia (SKM), and the Cooperative Institute of Malaysia (IKMa), to expand networks and strategic cooperation at both the national and global levels.

“I am confident that through participation in IYC 2025, school cooperatives can explore new sectors that are more relevant to current developments, such as the digital economy, green technology and the creative industry. This will ensure that school cooperatives remain relevant, and students are well-prepared for future challenges,” he said.

Earlier, he officiated the Launch of the International Year of Cooperatives and the School Cooperative Excellence Awards (AKKS), School Cooperative Tourism Awards (PKS), and Young School Cooperative Icon 2024 at the National Level, with the theme ‘School Cooperatives as Catalysts for a MADANI Generation’ here. 

A total of 300 school cooperatives involving 360 teachers and students were celebrated at the three-day event that began last Friday.

Over 20 awards were presented, including the National AKKS 2024, National PKS 2024, National Best Young School Cooperative Icon Award 2024 and the National Best School Cooperative Creative Product Competition 2024.

—BERNAMA