Post PMR Programmes

I just sent my sister-in-law to the train station. She was going to KL with her school contingent for a trip specially made for PMR students. It is good actually that the school prepared such programmes to fill in for the PMR students so that they will do something beneficial after their PMR examination. However, it should be carefully planned and not a lazy fill in just because the school was forced to do it.

My school conducted some programmes such as ICT courses (some of these form 3 students never had a chance to properly been introduced to computers because ICT classes started just this year at my school), games and video viewing. Some of them also filled in forms to go to the technique school (sekolah teknik) while others thinking of remaining at the school for next year. School targets are those in Form 3 Teguh because they are in the target class (Kelas Rancangan Khas or KRK) - 24 students in total. However, not all are expected to get all As, as school history showed only 2 students managed to get it in the past. They are Fatiha bt Mahmood (8As in 2004 - picture left) and Marhelia bt Alias (8As in 2005 - picture right). I wish you all the best of luck!

Hari Raya Celebrations

Today, I got 7 invitations for Hari Raya celebrations. I did not want to disappoint any of them, so I tried to go to all the classes that invited me. I started with Form 2 Proaktif eating 3 sticks of satay. Then, I visited 2 Iltizam and took a plate of chicken rice. After that, I went to 2 Sejahtera to eat some Roti Jala before going to 2 Teguh for another 3 sticks of satay. On the way to go back to the staff room, I stopped by 1 Teguh just to eat 2 pieces of kuih, because it was not in my original invitations. Then, I rested in the staff room before continuing my eating spree at 3 Teguh by taking a plate of Karimah's spaghetti. Finally, I dragged my stomach to 1 Tekun and ate a couple of bread with chicken sauce. For 1 Proaktif, I apologize because when I went there all were already packed.

Teaching English to Aboriginal Students

Today, I taught English to aboriginal students during extra class. I decided to do a lesson on vocabulary building, because theirs are very poor. Basically, I taught them how to find meanings of certain words in the dictionary. I gave them a worksheet consists of pictures with English words, and I asked them to find their meanings in Malay language. I found that some of them could do it fast enough, while others were very slow.

What Happens to Our Children Nowadays?

Our children are not what they are supposed to be anymore. Gangsterism, vandalism, band-worshiping, fighting, etc. are common, even in a rural school in Gua Musang. We just heard about how two female students kicked and punched their teacher in front of the whole class, while one of them took out a phone and took a video. A teacher's job become more demanding each day, apart from the routine teaching and administrative works, he/she has to be a disciplinarian. I doubt that all teachers in teacher's training courses learn martial arts, as it is a very useful tools to handle (or to protect themselves?) these problems. Nor more 'Yes, teacher' type of students, but more of a 'I will sue you for all your money's worth' type of students. Even the support of their parents do not help matters, they just go about their work without getting to know what their children do at school everyday. Some of them do not bother to come when summoned by the principal, and it makes matters worst.

School Access Centre

School Access Centre (SAC) is a cyber cafe in a school compound, designed to enable students to access the Internet without having to spend valuable money at cyber cafes outside the school. It is sponsored by the Ministry of Education, and for now, only a handful of schools received this generous investment by the ministry. My school is among the fortunate ones, and it is functioning well for the students' benefit. Moreover, I assigned students as committees to take care of the SAC, and it is a good opportunity for them to learn about responsibilities. I am not worried about the contents of the Internet available to the students though, as it is filtered by the Schoolnet system. Apart from that, students are given the chance to relax themselves after a hard day of study by listening to the music while they are surfing, or sending e-mails, or whatever they do.

The SAC committee members, Nabilah and Ain

Gua Musang now has CELCOM 3G!

Good news for Gua Musang residents (especially me!) as my broadband modem turns from green to blue light. It started approximately a week before Hari Raya Aidilfitri this year (2008). I hope it stays that way for the rest of my stay in the district (not planning of moving in the near future, though). It was false dawn at Tanah Merah (my in-laws' residence) during last election, when I enjoyed UMTS connection for only about a week, as it turned back to GPRS after the election. However, the district also has Celcom 3G connection now, and I'm not complaining.

Good Luck, PMRians

Today, Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) examination starts throughout Malaysia. I wish all those involved good luck in your examination, including my brother Mohd. Harith (picture left) and my sister-in-law Noramni (picture right). Hope that all of you will pass with flying colours. Eventhough this examination is not the only key to your success in life, it is surely the first stop where you can build your life on. I was among the first batch of PMRians, at its inception way back in 1993.