Education Ministry releases names of best schools and students

The practice of listing top students who excel in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) is back after an absence of a few years.

This year, Gladys Tan Yee Kim from SMK Green Road in Kuching emerged the top SPM student in the country with a score of 10A+’s.

The practice was stopped as the ministry was moving towards a more holistic education system and there were suicide cases involving several students who did not perform well in public examinations.

Announcing the list, Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom added that the country’s top school was SM Sains Seremban (see list).

He said a total of 7,987 students obtained a combination of A+, A and A- in all the subjects taken in the SPM last year, adding that 214 students from government schools and 41 students who were either from private schools or private candidates, obtained A+ in all subjects taken.

“We have implemented a more detailed grading system starting from last year’s SPM and an A+ grade is considered a super distinction,” he told reporters when announcing the analysis of the SPM and Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) 2009 results at the ministry yesterday.

Alimuddin added that A+ was the highest possible grade, which meant students would have scored more than 90% in the subject (see chart).

Students are now graded according to A+, A, A-, B+, B, C+, C, D, E and G compared to previously when the grades were from 1A to 9G.

On the number of subjects taken by students, he said 3,052 students sat for 10 subjects, 2,230 took 11, 1,700 took nine while only one student took 17, four took 16, and 13 took 15.

Alimuddin said 538 students with special needs were among the 465,853 who sat for the SPM.

He said Ng Jin Lui from SMK Gajah Berang in Malacca, who is visually impaired, was the top special needs student in the country with four A+’s, three A’s and four A-’s.

In Science, English and Moral Education, Alimuddin said rural students did better than their urban counterparts.

For the overall results, Alimuddin said 364,046 students obtained the SPM certificate this year compared to 347,443 in 2008.

Of the total who obtained the certificate, 199,155 passed all their subjects compared to 181,419 in 2008.

On the overall achievement of schools for SPM in relation to National Key Result Areas, Alimuddin said a majority of them were in the excellent, good and moderate categories.

“About 143 (6.7%) of the schools are in the ‘with potential category’,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said 3,138 students obtained the STAM certificate with the minimum grade of Maqbul (Pass).

“Their achievements mean they will be able to obtain a place at Al-Azhar University in Egypt and other institutions,” he said.

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Heroic teacher honoured

The SK Dipang teacher recalled that he was among a handful of people who jumped into the Kampar River to save the pupils after the suspension bridge gave way.

“I will never forget that day as I watched so many pupils fighting against the strong current to stay afloat,” he said after accepting a certificate of appreciation from Perak Fire and Rescue Department director Asst Comm Mohd Din Rajad during the firemen’s annual gathering at the Gopeng Fire Station Tuesday.

The certificate was given in recognition of his heroic efforts during the Oct 26 incident last year.

Three schoolchildren attending the 1Malaysia camp in Kuala Dipang – N. Dina Deve and M. Devatharshini, both 11, and V. Divyashree, 12 – drowned after the suspension bridge collapsed.

The 34-year-old said he instinctively jumped into the river and managed to save three schoolchildren and a civilian who had wanted to help, from being swept away.

“I never thought this could happen,” he added.

“I almost drowned as I was holding on to two schoolchildren while trying to make it to the riverbank.”

When asked how he felt about receiving the certificate, Mohd Sharif said although he appreciated the gesture, he was not proud to receive the award because three pupils had lost their lives.

“I would have been proud if the three had been saved,” he said.

Heroic teacher honoured

The SK Dipang teacher recalled that he was among a handful of people who jumped into the Kampar River to save the pupils after the suspension bridge gave way.
“I will never forget that day as I watched so many pupils fighting against the strong current to stay afloat,” he said after accepting a certificate of appreciation from Perak Fire and Rescue Department director Asst Comm Mohd Din Rajad during the firemen’s annual gathering at the Gopeng Fire Station Tuesday.
The certificate was given in recognition of his heroic efforts during the Oct 26 incident last year.
Three schoolchildren attending the 1Malaysia camp in Kuala Dipang – N. Dina Deve and M. Devatharshini, both 11, and V. Divyashree, 12 – drowned after the suspension bridge collapsed.
The 34-year-old said he instinctively jumped into the river and managed to save three schoolchildren and a civilian who had wanted to help, from being swept away.
“I never thought this could happen,” he added.
“I almost drowned as I was holding on to two schoolchildren while trying to make it to the riverbank.”
When asked how he felt about receiving the certificate, Mohd Sharif said although he appreciated the gesture, he was not proud to receive the award because three pupils had lost their lives.
“I would have been proud if the three had been saved,” he said.

Principals directed to step up security in schools

The Education Ministry has instructed all school principals and headmasters nationwide to step up security at their schools after a Molotov cocktail was thrown at the guardhouse of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Convent here Sunday.
Education Director-General Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom said Monday they had been reminded to abide by circular 4/2002 on the implementation of the safe school programme in handling matters related to the security of schools and students.
"The school security guards have also been directed to enforce tighter control in their areas. They must contact the police immediately if there is anything suspicious," he told reporters after visiting SMK Convent here.
He said that generally, security at SMK Convent and other schools in the country was good and the safety of students was assured and teachers and parents need not worry about Sunday's incident.
Meanwhile, Perak Mentri Besar Perak Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir reminded politicians not play up the arson attacks on several churches for political mileage.
All parties, including the media, should play their role and make national security and peace their priority, he said after visiting the St Louis Catholic Church, located next to SMK Convent, which was believed to be the target of the attack.
A Molotov cocktail was also thrown at the All Saints Church in Jalan Taming Sari Sunday but there was no damage done in both incidents. - Bernama

Malaysian is top English student at London varsity

A 21-year-old has done Malaysia proud when she was adjudged top student in English at the University of London’s Queen Mary College recently.
Adelina Raisa Sufian, who obtained a Bachelor of Arts (English) degree with first class honours, won the coveted 2009 Westfield Trust Prize for outstanding academic achievement in English at the university last month.
Commenting on her achievement, Adelina attributed her success to encouragement from her parents, businessman Datuk Sufian Majid and Datin Alissa Fitri.
Top scorer: Adelina (left) posing for a photo with friends after she won the Westfield Trust Prize at the University of London recently. — Bernama
“I set a target throughout my study,” she said. “Most importantly, we must have the determination and confidence to succeed.
“I am glad that I was able to compete with native speakers of English, as well as students from other countries,” she told Ber- nama.
Adelina, who is also an accomplished pianist, has represented Queen Mary College in choir and mathematics competitions.
While pursuing higher education at the Oakham School, Britain, in 2004, she won the Headmaster’s Prize and was adjudged top student in Mathematics, English and Chemistry.
On her future, Adelina said she planned to write, pursue a Master’s degree and work in Malaysia.
“I love my country,” she added.

Students turn homework essays into a book

A class of 33 fifth formers from Five Arif at SMK Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh decided to turn their English essays into a book rather than waste their hard work.
One of the fifth formers, Azalea Azarae, said the class was given the task of writing 30 essays, each 1,500 words long, during their year-end holidays last year.
“Our English teacher Puan Shantini (Karalasingam) wanted us to hand in our work on the first day of school this year,” she said, after representing her class in presenting copies of the book, entitled You Should Read This ... From Teens to Teens, to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at the Education Ministry.
Well done: Muhyiddin congratulating the students of SMK Bandar Baru Sungai Buluh for the hard work they have put in to compile their essays into a book.
She said Muhyiddin congratulated them on their book and encouraged them to work hard.
Fellow student Amizah Sulaiman, said after handing over the 900-odd essays to the teacher, they held a discussion and decided to compile the essays into a book.
“But as we could not put all 900 essays in, we formed an editorial panel, comprising fellow students who are good in English, to decide,” she said.
Classmate Lee Lai Fong said every student’s essay is in the book, with some having two.
“All the hard work is worth it now,” she added. SMK Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh principal Abdul Hakim Kassim said he was proud of his students as they had done all the work themselves.

Teach children to know the difference between tattling and helpful reporting

MUMMY! Jack hit me!” yells your five-year-old daughter. Your son shouts back: “No! I did not do anything to her. She is always lying.” Many parents have to deal with tattling among siblings. It takes a toll on worn-out parents when the whining and tattling get too much.
We want our children to speak up when they are hurt or in trouble. But we hardly encourage them to do so. We often respond to them with mixed messages such as: “Stop telling lies about your brother.” Or “Please stop all this bad talk at once! I don’t want to listen anymore.”
We want to teach children to know the difference between tattling and helpful reporting. If your child knows someone is in trouble and helps to tell an adult about it, that is helpful reporting. But if you tell on someone to get him in trouble, then that is tattling.
Parents have to teach children how to report clearly to protect them from those who want to hurt them. It is known that dangerous characters would tell children that nobody would believe them or they have to keep it a secret.
Children in the early years have difficulty sorting out what is right and wrong. It is up to parents to keep sharing with them ideas on doing the right thing. They need to know that certain words they use will hurt other people’s feelings. They must also learn how to tell so that people will believe them.
Sometimes they act impulsively to tattle on a friend or a sibling. In doing so, they get the attention they want or get the other person in trouble. Young children can be confused by what others do to them. They tell an adult using the wrong choice of words that will make matters worse.
One eight-year-old told her mother that a prefect in school scolds her all the time. Her mother probed further and found out that this prefect was telling her not to make friends with certain girls in class.
We want children to tell if they need help or if someone is in need of help. For example, a primary school child tells her friend that her uncle is touching her inappropriately. This young friend must know how to tell her parent or teacher instead of keeping mum.
Parents and teachers can teach children how to use certain words that will get them the appropriate attention. Siblings usually tell on one another to seek favour from parents. You do not want to punish the other child unfairly or reinforce the tattling behaviour.
Preschoolers and early primary school age children know certain rules and they may not like it when others do not follow these rules. A primary school teacher who taught Year One pupils, once told me that a student handed her a ruler and reminded her that she had set the rule that anyone who talked in class would be punished.
Listen carefully to what your child tells you. Do not brush her off by saying, “I don’t want you to tell on your brother.”
This can make your child feel slighted and ridiculed. Sometimes all you need to do is to listen; do not get roped into sibling fights.
If you want to do something, you can respond to “John took my colour pencils without asking for permission,” by teaching your child how to clearly state her feelings and opinion to her sibling.
Teach her to use words that will empower her to get things done properly. Together you can work out ideas on what she should do next. Turn-taking, sharing, negotiating or exchanging may be possible solutions for your child to solve the problem by herself.
Teach your child how to use appropriate words. Let her know that she can approach the person directly. “You are angry with your brother. Let him know this. Tell him that you don’t like it when he takes your things without asking you first.”
Parents can set the right example for their children by using “feeling” words in their messages. You can say: “I’m very happy that you told me how you feel instead of lashing out in anger.”
Children learn from parents how to use “feeling” words appropriately and understand their own feelings better.
For children to have self-confidence and respect for others, they need to be equipped with the knowledge and skill to act and speak appropriately

120 pupils cramped in two double-storey premises

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk T. Murugiah has expressed shock at the plight of some 120 pupils of a Tamil school in Lukut near here.

Murugiah, who made an unscheduled stop at SJKT Ladang Singai Salak yesterday, was dismayed to see the pupils studying in cramped conditions in two rented, double-storey shoplots.
“This looks like a fire-trap, it certainly doesn’t look like a school to me. I will do whatever I can to help them move to a better place,” he said.

Not an ideal location: It may not be that old but the two double-storey shophouses in Lukut cannot be a conducive learning place and certainly not a place to call school for the 120 pupils of SJKT Ladang Sg Salak.
The school was previously located in Siliau but was moved when its student population dwindled. It was then allowed to squat at SJKT Bandar Springhill for two years.

It was moved to its present location when the student population increased.

Parents, when met outside the school, also expressed hope that the authorities would help to relocate the school.

Murugiah said the school was unable to accept more students as there was no space for expansion. It has been operating from the shoplots for the last two years.

Murugiah said he would consult with Deputy Education Minister Datuk Wee Ka Siong on the possibility of moving the school to a plot reserved for another Tamil school.

It is learnt that the other Tamil school, at the seventh kilometre of Jalan Pantai, was supposed to have moved to the plot but the plan was aborted.

“I will appeal to the Education Ministry to allow this school to be moved there,” he said.

Shame on spectators for booing our boys

I WAS among the many who watched the Manchester United-Malaysia football match at Bukit Jalil last Saturday. I think the Malaysian boys did us proud that night and I found myself rooting for our national team despite being a Manchester United supporter.
What disappointed me though was the attitude of the Malaysian spectators. Not cheering for the national team is one thing but to boo them is quite another. Countless times, when a Malaysian player misplaced a pass, the stadium would start ringing with boos and taunts for the players to “balik lah”. When our two-goal hero Amri Yahyah was substituted, only a handful of spectators stood up to applaud him off.
Many of them didn’t even recognise who was the one who dragged Malaysia back into the game. Even our national team coach Rajagopal said he was disappointed with the lack of support for our players.
The same happened when the Malaysian players applauded the crowd after the match. The ovation granted to our players was relatively minuscule compared to that when the United team sat down for a warm-down.
Of course, I realise Manchester United are the main draw here, but this is our country for crying out loud! We see letters in The Star all the time criticising the national team but when they finally do us proud, where is the support?
Are Malaysians not patriotic enough to put country before club – a foreign club 6,000 miles away at that?

Hard to cope with increase in food prices

Ninety-five per cent of families in the country are finding it hard to cope with the rise in food prices.
National Population and Family Development Board director-general Datuk Aminah Abdul Rahman said this was revealed in an opinion research survey conducted in 2008 on the impact of inflation on families.
“Some 44% of women in the lower-income group also said that misunderstandings arose over finances due to the increase,” she said in her speech after launching a family finance management programme here yesterday.
Aminah said there were also complaints of harassment from loan sharks and bank warnings issued to families for failing to pay their loans just because they did not know how to manage their finances.
Participants of the programme learnt to differentiate between their wants and needs when managing their household budget.
Family Development Department head Fauwas Hasbullah said the programme was organised to educate the public on how to live within their budget without having to borrow from loan sharks.
“Through interactive activities, participants get to play the role of a family member and learn how to manage money as a family,” he said.
The programme will be held nationwide until the end of this year with the help of Bank Negara’s Counselling and Credit Management Agency.
A participant, Syahizwan Osman, 25, said the programme taught him how to manage his income in an orderly manner.
“It will take some time for me to change but this programme is a kick-start for me to make changes in my lifestyle one step at a time,” he said.

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