stuart@thestar.com.my

TO RAISE the standards of English literature in schools, the English-Speaking Union of Malaysia (ESUM) donated over 100 books to SMK Anderson in Ipoh, Perak.

The donation, part of the “Gift of Knowledge” programme under ESUM, was presented by ESUM founding chairman Tunku Dara Naquiah Tuanku Ja’afar to SMK Anderson English teacher Mohd Azlan Datuk Mohd Ali at the Antah building in Damansara on Tuesday.

This is the first time that ESUM has donated books to schools. The books were collected from ESU from other countries.

Simple books like “Franklin is Lost” to more challenging award winners like “They Marched into Sunlight” by David Maraniss and “Collected Poems of Robert Lowell” were chosen to suit the profile of students who range from first to sixth formers.

Tunku Dara Naquiah looking at a book with Mohd Azlan (third from right) as Bernama editor-in-chief Azman Ujang (second from right) and Anderson old boy Jon Tan (right) and others look on.

“We want to improve the standard of English, especially English literature, at SMK Anderson. We choose this school because it was established in 1909 and has a rich history.

“To ensure that other schools are not left out, we are also looking to collect more books to be given to other schools throughout Malaysia from time to time,’’ said Tunku Dara Naquiah.

Besides the donation, ESUM’s “Gift of Knowledge” programme also will have a teacher visit a chosen school and teach students English and make it fun for them to learn the language.

Mohd Azlan, who was grateful for the donation, said that the books would be a great help.

“The books will expose our students to English literature. This is in line with the Government’s vision to improve the standard of English in schools,’’ said Mohd Azlan, who is keen to see students improve their English with the books.

Milo, the sponsors, had invited trainees from Soccer Kids Seladang and Tunas Harapan FC for the clinic.

Raja Azlan, a hard tackling defender during his playing days, spent almost two hours with the young children.

After the one-hour coaching clinic, there was a friendly match between Soccer Kids Seladang and Tunas Harapan FC.

Jubilant: The players from Full Clip FC and Anderson FC celebrating after qualifying for the grand finals.

Soccer Kids Seladang won 2-0. Both teams were presented with medals and hampers from Milo.

Meanwhile, Anderson FC became the champions of the Milo Hidup Bola futsal carnival after an easy 5-1 win over Full Clip FC in the final.

Anderson FC received RM1,000, Milo Hidup Bola commemorative futsal balls, jerseys and balls from Figos while Flip Clip FC received RM800.

Both Anderson FC and Full Clip FC, comprising students from SMK Tunku Abdul Rahman, have qualified for the grand finals to be held at the Sports Planet in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur on July 22.

A total of 55 teams, exceeding the target of 48, took part in the carnival.

The next leg of the carnival will be held at Kota Baru Futsal Arena in Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan on June 29.

The entry fee is RM50. For more details, contact Nik Muhd Radzi at 019-351 9934 or 019-210 2442.

Its senior assistant (co-curricular) Khairil Anuar Khairuddin said the school, which has been named the state co-curricular champion twice, was one of the best when it came to sports and co-curricular activities in Perak.

“We want to be number one in this event as well,” he said, referring to the walk on July 15.

“We have an enrolment of over 1,000 students. We hope all of them will take part,” he added.

Enthusiastic:SMK Anderson students showing their entry forms:With them are Khairil(right)and school sports secretary Bachan Singh.

Khairil Anuar said some 500 students from the school had been taking part in the walk annually since its debut in Ipoh in 2004.

SMK Methodist Ipoh senior assistant (student affairs) Datin Mungit Kaur said the event provided a good opportunity for her students to interact with people of different races and meet students from other schools.

SMK St Michael Ipoh co-curriculum senior assistant Loo Leong Hoo said the students would receive certificates of participation.

Closing date for the submission of entries is June 22. Those who want to sign up can do so at The Star’s office at No 39, Jalan Hussein in Ipoh. The closing date for entries is June 22.

For details, contact 05-2530402.

But the talented sprinter, who is only 18, will have to put his ambition on hold for the time being. The Upper Six student of Anderson Secondary School is down for the South-East Asian (SEA) Junior Championships starting in Singapore today. After that, it is back to studying for his SPTM exams.

And that means giving the December Korat SEA Games a miss even if he beats the qualifying mark of 10.52.

After all, his time last week is the closest to the qualifying mark. National sprinters like 2003 Vietnam SEA Games double gold medallist Nazmizan Mohamed, Latif Nyat, Mohd Zabidi Ghazali and Mohd Sharafie Shauli have not dipped below 10.60 in the 100m.

Rehvan said that he was delighted to have clocked a time faster than the national sprinters this year.

“I managed to post the good time because of the guidance under coach Sankaran (Kutty) in Ipoh. He has helped me improve my endurance and also the slow start from the blocks.

“I am really happy to improve my personal best of 10.77 which I registered in the boys’ Under-18 category at the MSSM (Malaysian Schools Sports Council) Championships last month,” said Rehvan.

“My next mission now is to beat the SEA Games qualifying mark of 10.52. But even if I beat the mark for the Games, I will not be able to compete because of my STPM examinations in November and December.

“My parents want me to concentrate on my exams as for them education comes first. Besides that I also want to obtain a place in the university to do my automotive engineering degree,” said Rehvan.

At the SEA Junior Championships, Rehvan will compete in the 200m and 4×100m as there is no 100m event for the boys.

Thirty-four athletes comprising 18 boys and 16 girls will represent Malaysia in the two-day meet in Singapore.

KUALA LUMPUR: Undefeated league champions Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) will face Perak’s Anderson in the knock-out quarter-final stage of the Malaysia Junior Hockey League (MJHL).

The Ipoh school lost 0-5 to BJSS in a league match and they can expect a torrid time against BJSS in the match at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Saturday.

In yesterday’s draw, Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) will meet SMK Tunku Besar (KL Hockey Stadium); Bandar Penawar Sports School (BPSS) face Sukses Selangor (National Hockey Stadium) and Tenaga Nasional come up against MSN Terengganu (Tun Razak Stadium).

Source : TheStar.com.my

Among the top schools in the country, there is a buzz of excitement. They are now competing to be one of the 300 “cluster schools” which will give them some autonomy in running their schools and developing areas of specialisations.

SM TEKNIK Tawau in Sabah has the honour of being the first cluster school to be identified under the Education Ministry’s National Education Blueprint 2006-2010.

Although the school is known for its Information and Communication Technology (ICT), super principal Mary Yap (right) is also looking at improving in other areas like co-curricular excellence.

With this mission in mind, she will convert every Tuesday into a co-curricular day. And no one will be spared. The principal, teachers and students will participate in aerobics first thing in the morning.

“If we want the students to be fit, we have to lead by example, so what better way than to get everyone involved.

“After the aerobics, the students will join their clubs or participate in other sporting activities,” she says.

This means the school day on Tuesday will be extended from 12.30pm to 3pm to accommodate the first two periods for aerobics and co-curricular activities.

“We’ve got the blessing of the Parent-Teacher Association to do this,” she shares enthusiastically while waiting to board the plane from the KL International Airport after listening to Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein’s New Year message on Thursday.

A torch run will be held on Jan 26 to mark the inaugural Co-curricular Day.

Yap is acknowledged for transforming a struggling school into an excellent one after being inspired by a school in Malacca.

“It really opened the eyes of the teachers on how things could be done. Now we want our school to be used as a benchmark for others,” she shares.

When Hishammuddin visited the school last April, he said he was amazed at the leadership and management of the school and announced that it would be made a cluster school.

Best practices

The cluster school initiative can create a platform for schools to share their knowledge and best practices, says Tiong Ting Ming, principal of SMJK Dindings, Lumut, Perak, one of the leading schools in ICT in the country.

“We have built our ICT infrastructure internally and with minimal funding. SMJK Dindings fulfilled the criteria to be a model school in ICT, and can be a benchmark for other schools. Our experience can help others,” he explains.

Says Tiong, his school was initially nominated by the Perak State Education department but now it has to wait for the final decision since the application is open to all.

“I am very proud of my school’s achievements. There are not many ICT model schools like this in our part of the world,” he adds.

All for autonomy

A principal in a special education school is happy that cluster schools have more independence in choosing its teachers and students, as well as be able to raise additional funds to finance its programmes.

“If we are selected as a cluster school, I hope that we will be able to upgrade our physical facilities as we are quite an old school.

SMJK Dindings students helped put in the cabling when they built their ICT equipped building.

“I also hope our teachers will have more opportunities to be sent abroad for training to upgrade themselves,” she says.

The school wants to focus on music for blind students as well as excel in goal ball and athletics.

“I hope to get a coach from abroad to train our students for competitions at the international level as we are already the national champions in goal ball. We also have two students who recently won gold and bronze medals in athletics at the Fespic (Far East and South Pacific Games Federation) Games for the disabled hosted by Malaysia last year.”

All for autonomy

A principal from a Chinese school in Penang says his school has applied to be included in the cluster school programme.

“I submitted two proposals last year. We are now waiting for word from the ministry,” he adds.

Having more autonomy in managing the school is one of the factors that attracted him to join the programme.

“If I get to choose who to hire, I will want to hire the top teachers to teach my students. We are also keen on producing all-rounders and want to place emphasis on both physical and mental development, aside from academic excellence.

Autonomy is what attracted the principal of one of the top girls’ schools in the Klang Valley to seek the status of cluster school.

“I want to be able to select the good students instead of taking in those selected by the state education department. Having more autonomy would also mean we have control over the subjects offered. Now we have to get permission if we want to make any changes,” she says.

The principal of a boys’ residential school says having more autonomy would enable him to have more streams at the school.

“Of course, we will need to get the agreement of the Parent-Teacher Association but it would be nice to be able offer more than science so that students have more options to choose from,” he adds.

More facilities

Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) may be ahead of most schools in sporting equipment and facilities, but being selected as a cluster school will enhance the school’s sports achievements, shares a teacher there.

“We already have many benefits as a sports school but once we become a cluster school, we will get better infrastructure and trainers,” he says.

BJSS caters to athletes from 28 sports and can take up to 600 students.

Plans for a sports school in Perlis is currently underway and is expected to be ready some time in 2008.

It would be the fourth sports school in the country after Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur, Bandar Penawar in Johor and another one in Pahang.

In addition, there are schools designated as part-time sports schools or Sekolah Sukan Sambilan, which specialise in specific sports. Selected students can transfer to these schools, which include SM Anderson, Ipoh, for hockey and SM Victoria, Kuala Lumpur, for rugby.

PETALING JAYA: Favourites and 10-time champions SMK Anderson were knocked out of the MHF-Milo-Champions Schools hockey tournament when they lost 1-2 to SMK Seberang Temerloh in the quarter-finals in Kangar yesterday.

It was also a close call for defending champions Malacca High School.

The score read 0-0 at the end of regulation time against SMK Penang Free.

But they managed to squeeze into the last four with a slim 5-4 win in the penalty shoot-out.

Syakir Kamaruddin, Hanif Rahim, Zulhilmi Ali, Zulhafiz Ali and Dedy Ariyadi Jumaidi converted for Malacca High School.

In the quarter-final match involving Anderson and Seberang Temerloh, Hafizul Aslawi gave Anderson the early lead in the 21st minute off a penalty corner.

Seberang Temerloh’s Muhammad Dzahiruddin Ujang scored the equaliser off a field goal attempt, one minute before the break.

Zakhwan Shahran sealed the match for Seberang Temerloh from another field goal attempt in the 55th minute.

Seberang Temerloh team manager Wan Mazlan Wan Isa said his boys worked very hard for the win.

“This was not the first time we have managed to beat Anderson. In the Under-15 Tunas Cemerlang championship in Kuantan last year, we beat them 1-0. We came into the match as underdogs,” said Wan Mazlan.

“Our main tactic was to prevent Anderson from earning penalty corners.

“We studied their group matches and found out they scored most of the goals from penalty corners. We relied on counter attacks to score our goals.

“Our intention right now is to improve our fourth place finish last year. We have reached the semi-finals again which is a good achievement. I am confident the boys will be trying their best to reach the final.

“We will meet SMK Syed Hassan in the semi-finals. They are a strong side, so we have to be very careful,” he added.

PETALING JAYA: Former champions SMK Anderson and defending champions Malacca High School are on course for the title showdown in the MHF-Milo Champion Schools hockey tournament at the Perlis Sports Complex in Kangar here.

Both teams advanced from Group A with Anderson heading the top half of the quarter-finals draw. They will meet SMK Seberang Temerloh in the first match this morning.

Malacca High School, who lost their group match to Anderson, will face Penang Free School in another last-eight match.

Anderson, the 10-time winners, are aware of the pitfalls in the knockout stages, especially after their quarter-final exit last year.

They are not about to slip up with coach Mokhtar Baharuddin telling his players to keep up their winning ways.

“We are taking it one match at a time and we plan to be cautious in our remaining games. So far we have won both our matches and this has boosted the players’ confidence.

“The Temerloh side were a semi-finalist last year and they will be looking at improving on their performance this time around,” he added.

SMK Temerloh went through to the last eight thanks to the 9-0 thrashing of Royal Military College in Group D yesterday.

Goals from Mohamed Hafizuddin, Mohamed Nor Zakhwan (four), Mutakim Nasir (two), Mohamed Hafizul Akhmar and Mohamed Izzat Izzuddin saw them progressing behind unbeaten group winners Penang Free School who downed SMK Hamzah 3-1.

Hosts SMK Syed Hasaan topped Group C by defeating SMK La Salle of Selangor 6-0.

Syed Hassan will face Negri Sembilan’s SMK Tunku Besar in the last eight while the second placed team from Group C, SAB College meet Setapak High School in the last quarter-final match.

Syed Hassan are the first Perlis team to make the knockout stage and they will be hoping to go a step further today.

Setapak High School ensured they topped Group B with a 6-1 win over SMK Khir Johari.

Source : TheStar.com.my

The Perak team topped the group with six points and the win also allowed defending champions Malacca High School to make it into the knockout stage. Anderson had on Thursday beaten the Malaccans 3-1.

Terengganu’s Padang Midin went into the match needing a big win to make the grade. But Anderson, a 10-time champion, were in no charitable mood.

Mohamed Ali Zakuan gave Anderson the lead in the eighth minute through a field goal and Hafizul Aslawi added the second 10 minutes later. Mohamed Sabri Mohamed then added the other two goals in the 30th and 60th minutes for a convincing win.

In Group B, Negri Sembilan’s SMK Tunku Besar also moved into the last eight with a 5-0 win over SMK Khir Johari of Kedah.

The 1997 champions, needing a big win to stay alive in the competition, turned on the style to wrap up their group campaign. Their goal scorers were Mohamed Hafiz Ramli, Mohamed Nor Ridhwan, Shazrul Ekhmar and Mohamed Shafiq Yaakob (two).

Khir Johari can still advance into the last eight if they beat Setapak High School today by five goals.

The action of the day was in Group C where last year’s runners-up SAB College of Johor qualified for the quarter-finals by whipping Selangor’s SMK La Salle 6-0.

On Thursday, the Johor side were stunned 2-1 by hosts SMK Syed Hassan, who can qualify with a draw against the La Salle team today.

The other qualifiers, including those from Group D which have four teams, will be decided after the last four group matches today.

Source : TheStar.com.my