'Secret weapon' pays off for Sabah rural school
SUCCESS: All 36 pupils of SMK Ulu Sapi pass SPM after undergoing special programme
SMK Ulu Sapi principal Lamri Dikon (seated, second from right) looking at the results of the school’s top student Walter Yaman (seated, right) who obtained 6As and 4Bs in the 2011 SPM examination while assistant principal Mohd Nor Ridzwan Abdullah and other students look on. Pic by Edmund Samunting
KOTA KINABALU: THE putrid smell of peat soil permeates the air at SMK Ulu Sapi in Telupid as the midday sun glares in full force.
The distinctive foul sulphur-like smell comes from an adjacent site where a new primary school is being built on what used to be a swampy piece of land.
Despite a tingling sensation in their nostrils, no one at the school, which shares the same building with SK Ulu Sapi, seem to be bothered.
Classes went on as usual in a few rooms where teachers and students sweat more because there are no fans.
SMK Ulu Sapi, 250km from Kota Kinabalu, was recently given special mention by State Education director Datuk Dr Muhiddin Yusin.
All 36 of its Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidates last year passed the examination.
It was one of 19 schools that had achieved the feat in the state.
On paper, the odds were stacked against the students from performing well or even remaining at the wooden school, but perform they did.
And there was a distinction of quality too, as all of them passed four subjects, Bahasa Malaysia, Moral, Science and Visual Arts.
Principal Lamri Dikon said dedication shown by the school's teachers, parents and even the community in general had helped motivate the children.
"We do not have the best of resources but we make do with what we have," he said of the school which has about 300 students and 29 teachers.
There are four primary schools for the area but SMK Ulu Sapi can only accommodate those from SK Ulu Sapi and SK Bintang Emas.
"We do not have the capacity, no hostel and on top of that this is not our building," said Lamri.
Pupils from the two other schools, SK Kiabau and SK Ansuon, are enrolled at SMK Telupid located about 45km away.
To prepare the students for the SPM, the school had a multi-pronged approach in motivating and counselling the students.
Their "secret weapon", the SMK Ulu Sapi 2011 Academic Excellence programme kicked off in January last year and ended when the students completed their exams.
In the programme, teachers organised extra classes for free and occasional counselling sessions to motivate the students.
Top achiever Walter Yaman who obtained 6 As and 4 Bs in the exam, attributed his success to the teachers in charge of the excellent programme.
"We were kept occupied with our studies, courses, talks and even outings," said Walter, who lives with a relative at a nearby plantation.
"Most of what we learn are from our school books plus some notes from our teachers," added the student who aspires to become a teacher.
Echoing similar sentiments was Joiena Amit who obtained five As, three Bs and a C despite having to do daily chores at home.
Congratulations and good job to all the students who managed to get good results in their SPM last year.
BalasPadamTahniah di ucapkan pada Walter Yaman
BalasPadamCongrats to Walter and good job to the rest of the students.
BalasPadamThe question now is where and what to further thier study?
BalasPadamKecermelangan ini harus diteruskan untuk memupuk lebih banyak generasiyang berkebolehan.
BalasPadam"Most of what we learn are from our school books plus some notes from our teachers," added the student who aspires to become a teacher.
BalasPadamThe teacher play important to affect the student.
Ya, ditambah lagi dengan pelajar yang senang masuk ajar konpom semuanya OK.
Padamjika kita berusaha, pasti akan berjaya.
BalasPadamBaguslah kalau dikawasan luar bandar dapat meningkatkan pendidikan mereka.
BalasPadamHarap murid-murid di semua sekolah kawasan pedalam dapat buktikan kemampuan mereka. Saya yakin usaha yang berterusan pasti membolehkan murid2 berjaya dengan cemerlang.
PadamBanyak sudah pencapaian pelajar luar bandar yang membuktikan mereka boleh bersaing dengan pelajar yang berada di bandar.
PadamWalaupun menghadapi kekurangan dalam kemudahan namun itu tidak menghalang mereka untuk terus berusaha bagi lulus dalam SPM.
BalasPadamIni barulah contoh terbaik. Kalau memang mahu maju tak payah bergantung sangat dengan kemudahan kerana tanpa kemudahan pun boleh juga berjaya.
Padam"We do not have the best of resources but we make do with what we have."
BalasPadamYeah, ini baru bukti usaha tangga kejayaan. Taniah.
Sikap dedikasi guru2 telah membuahkan hasil. Tahniah kepada guru2 yang berusaha keras dalam membimbing pelajar hingga mendapat keputusan yang terbaik.
PadamTaniah lah. Saya puji dia punya guru-guru serta murid sana sebab tidak menjadikan kekurangan kemudahan sebagai alasan utk tidak lulus cemerlang dalam exam.
BalasPadamHal ini patut dijadikan contoh oleh semua pihak, barulah makin banyak sekolah pedalaman yang berkemungkinan bergerak ke arah peningkatan yang terbaik.
BalasPadamtahniah kepada yang lulus cemerlang.. yang tidak cemerlang atau gagal tu jangan pula hilang motivasi.. teruskan usaha..
BalasPadamThe state education department should be given power on decision-making and the implementation of development projects, especially maintenance, training and recruitment of teachers.
BalasPadamThis will allow the department to manage their own allocations based on the concept ‘Let managers manage’ and son on, as mentioned by the State Education Director Datuk Dr Muhiddin Yusin
BalasPadamCurrently the department is not empowered to manage any allocation for development even if it is for projects costing below RM500,000.
BalasPadamHe said this is despite present regulations which state the department can decide on projects worth below RM500,000.
BalasPadamHe added that this regulation has been stated in the Arahan Perbendaharaan (Treasury directive) more than 10 years ago.
BalasPadamHe was commenting on the recent suggestion by State Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Salleh Tun Said that the Sabah Education Department be given more power and autonomy.
BalasPadamAccording to Salleh, many school buildings in the Sabah are in need of repair and educational projects are not carried out systematically due to having to refer simple matters to Putrajaya, which jeopardises the Government efforts in developing education in Sabah.
BalasPadamSalleh acknowledged the capability of Muhiddin as head of the education department, in that he well versed in the context of local needs, hence felt it unnecessary, or alternatively, to minimise the requirement for local education officers to attend meetings held in Kuala Lumpur.
BalasPadamAmongst other matter, Datuk Masidi Manjun has been very voacal petaining to the temporary teachers whose services were being made redundant following a directive by the Education Ministry, and would fight for their right.
BalasPadamStressing that he symphatised their fate, the Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister ( who is also the Minister in charge of education in Sabah) said although they might just be Sijil Rendah Pelajaran (SRP) holders, their services were still relevant to society.
BalasPadamApart from that, the gave affirmation for their sacrifice for their willingness and their determination and dedication to teach the younger children to excel in their life to be relocated to remote villages to teach, despite the low pay.
BalasPadamHe believes that these group of temporary teachers should be absorbed and offered permanent posts, especially those who have served for about three decades.
BalasPadam