KUALA LUMPUR – MMC Corporation Berhad is sponsoring RM51,250 worth of New Straits Times to be distributed in five schools to promote the culture of using the English language in schools.

The schools chosen under the English Development Programme (EDP) are SK Sungai Abong in Muar; SMK Persisiran Perdana, Ledang; SK Hosba, Jitra; SMK Pendang and SK Hamzah, Machang.

Fifty copies of newspapers will be distributed to each of the schools daily for 205 schooling days as a part of the NST programme.

MMC group managing director Datuk Hasni Harun said the objective was to help the students in rural communities to improve their command of English and to make them aware of current issues.

“If this noble cause is effective and we can see a vast improvement in the students, we will continue with this programme in the future,” he said.

NST group editor Datuk Syed Nadzri Syed Harun said he encouraged schools to use newspapers for teaching.

“We hope that this kind of partnership will go on for a long time,” he said during the cheque presentation ceremony at Balai Berita yesterday.

The newspaper distribution to the schools will start on Monday.