Page 85 - YBAM 50th Anniversary Souvenir Magazine

from specific people who have a deep many years of experience in auditing She toured all over the country to explain Cheok Yun Chai, treasurer Ong Kah
understanding of Buddhism and strong textbooks of the Ministry of Education. the textbooks and conduct activities. Seong and the former secretaries (Seo
writing skills, and collecting articles by Leng Leng, Ng Phaik Hoon, Chang Mei
holding textbook writing camps. Khor Ewe Pin - Founder and President As for the illustrations, the standard one Ying, Tan She Teng) had fully cooperated
of Odonata Publishing, popular writer, to standard three were taken care by Loh to make sure the work was well organised.
At that time, the then YBAM President Goh contributor to Chinese textbooks for Kim Meng, standard four to standard six With an excellent administrative team,
Tay Hock also joined the writing team. For secondary school in the Ministry of were in charged by Ray Hoo and Louis the lengthy process of compiling books
standard five and six textbooks, he was Education. Ng, and some of them were Lew Yin Yee’s progressed rather smoothly.
the sole writer. In 2011, a full set of six- work. As the team has insisted that the
year textbooks and teacher’s guidebook They were involved in reviewing each principal pictures must be created using After compiling the textbook for each
were published. and every aspect of the textbooks from watercolors instead of computer painting, grade, the complete sample was passed
standard one to six, and they met up the editorial board almost failed to identify to Venerable Chi Chern and Venerable
All writers composed the textbook in once a month or once in two months. a qualified artist at that time, who was both Khai Sear for the last round of review
accordance with the curriculum and its Occasionally, Khor Ewe Pin also arranged skillful and able to conform to Buddhist before sending it to print.
syllabus, submitted the paper on time. It his staff from the Odonata Publishing to style, especially the illustration of the Lord
was reviewed, amended, or modified by assist in taking meeting minutes, and Buddha and his disciples. It’s not easy to COMPILING BUDDHIST CURRICULUM,
the editors or returned to the writer for he has helped to publish the full set find the right people. TEXTBOOKS, AND TEACHER’S
rewriting, which would be reviewed again of textbooks and teacher’s guidebooks GUIDEBOOK FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL
at the next meeting for perfection. The from standard one to standard six at a As for the songs in the activity suggestions,
review process was often time consuming special price. Such generosity is worth the main composers were Teoh Wei Kien, After the compilation of teaching materials
and labour intensive which was the main remembering! Upon finishing the primary Chow Kam Leong, Lee Hann Chong and for primary school Buddhist study, the
reason for the late publication time. The school textbooks, Keoh Lean Cheaw and etc., while the production of CDs was editorial board began to plan and compile
lineup of writers was quite large and Chong Beng Hooi accepted the offer to mainly taken care of by Seng Tak Pin and secondary school Buddhist textbooks from
those closely involved were Venerable stay on as editors of secondary school Lee Ying Chien. 2011 onwards. The same process applied
Chi Chern, Goh Tay Hock, Lee Li Chong, textbooks. to set up the editorial board, compiling the
Neoh Wee Keon, Lim Ai Li, Kiu Yee Ni, We were very fortunate that in the process curriculum, and then recruiting the writers
Yeow Feng Wei and etc. The process of writing ‘Teacher’s of compilation, the Vice Chairperson to write for textbooks accordingly.
Guidebook for Primary Buddhist
The three editors who reviewed the Textbooks’ was equally complicated
textbook were also accomplished and and lengthy. Fortunately, Liew Pee Lian,
experienced, who was the chairperson of the Education
Committee at the time, led the team to
Keoh Lean Cheaw - Veteran in the teaching complete the work with her rich experience
profession, senior Dharma speaker, and professional knowledge as a lecturer
Editor-in-Chief of Buddhist Digest, Editor at the Trainee Teachers College. The
of Yu Hu Buddhist Children’s Publication, team that compiled the guidebook was
Founder and Director of Pu Ai Community large, therefore their names cannot be
Center Penang. mentioned here one by one.

Chong Beng Hooi - Senior Lecturer of The section of ‘activity suggestions’ from
Trainee Teachers College, President of standard one to six within textbooks were
082 Central Kedah Buddhist Association, with completed independently by Lew Yin Yee. 083

50 YEARS OF DHARMA PRO PA GATION CO NTINUING THE MIS SION IN THE 5G ER A