In today’s entry, I want to share my personal experience regarding education in schools. I went to Malaysia public schools for 13 years.
When I was five years old, I attended Tadika Kemas in Indera Mahkota, Kuantan. I remember I learnt how to read and count. It was also the first time I know about year. It was the year 1997. I was there until 1998. However I did not finish my kindergarten due to some issues.
I had primary education in three different schools. Standard 1 and Standard 2 in SK Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan. Sweet memories here was I got number 1 in the class at the end of the year. During year end award ceremony, I was the first person to get on the stage. Because I was in the first class in Standard 1, and I got number 1. Those days, academic award were given to top 3 students in each class. Not sure how it is right now.
In Standard 3, I moved to Johor Bahru. I attended SK (P) Sultan Ibrahim, Johor Bahru also known as Sultan Ibrahim Girls School (SIGS). It was really a new experience to me. Mix races, school located near the city centre, and it is an all girls school! The school is one of the top schools in Johor Bahru. My father always told me that the school is very good and many bright students coming from that school. The school has high expectations from the parents. Alhamdulillah I did maintain my academic performance regardless being in new school.
In Standard 4, I moved back to Kuantan. I went to SK Indera Mahkota, Kuantan for three years. I like this school. Even though it is not one of the top schools in Kuantan, but I remember the teachers putting so much effort for the students. There were mentor-mantee program, detention class, smart reading activities, and so on. Regarding smart reading activities, we need to spend around 10-15 minutes to read a short essay in English. There will be teachers in charge in each group. And I think all the efforts from the teachers were paid off because during Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) in 2004, all of us in 6 Wira got 5As! That was such an achievement. And it was the best academic achievement record of the school at that time.
Actually after UPSR, I was thinking to go to boarding school. But I think that time my parents won’t let me and I also did not receive any offer to the boarding school. In Form 1, me and my family again moved back to Johor Bahru. This one for real because my mom quit her job and they have decided to stay in Johor Bahru until God knows when. When I moved to JB, I was placed in SMK Aminuddin Baki, Johor Bahru. However my father put his best effort to change my school. Three days in a row he went to Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah (PPD) to apply to change my school. He wanted me to go to SMK (P) Sultan Ibrahim which was top school in JB. Even though I got 5As in UPSR, it is still not easy to go to SIGS. My father need to convince PPD by saying that I am a hockey player. I was active in hockey in primary school. I represent my school in hockey. And SIGS is one of the best hockey team in JB. Hence, I managed to get into SIGS on the fourth day, right after I finished my orientation at SMK Aminuddin Baki. Fo this, I am so thankful. In fact, until now, when I remember this, I will forever grateful for what my father did back then for me. My father really prioritised his kids’ education. I remember he was trying so hard to enroll my brother in skills training after his SPM. My brother’s SPM result is not that good, hence my father enroll him in skills training. Even though it was far away from home, which is Bintulu.
Okay back to my story. I was happy to be in SIGS. I got 8As in PMR. This was unexpected because I did not do well in PMR trial, so did not expect that. Actually I want to go to boarding school in Form 4. MRSM to be exact. But I did not get any offer. Neither from MRSM, nor SBP. Not even from Sekolah Teknik. I remember I was so sad when I check the result. I remember I called my father, crying, couldn’t barely speak. I took the bus from school to go to my father’s office. Continue crying. My father was so worried. He thought that I was getting bullied. Haha. When I told him I did not receive offer from MRSM, he said it’s okay, and he will see what he can do. But, for same reasons, I did not manage to go to any boarding school. Still in SIGS. But I am still thankful for what Allah has planned for me. In Form 4, I took science stream plus accounting subject. I got 8As and 4Bs in SPM. This was also unexpected because I only got 2As in SPM trial. In secondary school, I was active with hockey (only during lower form), and other co-curriculum activities. I am not so good in sports to the extend to represent the school, but I manage to participate in other co-curriculum activities such as marching competition and J-robik competition. Being in the top school, there were many opportunities. One of it, I managed to learn Japanese Language. I even took Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) Level 4 which is the lowest level. This was an advantage when I went to Uni. I took Japanese Language as a foreign language and manage to get A for two semesters, because it was just like a revision to me. Hehe.
I will stop here. For now. This is my last entry for PGDE 7043 subject. I’m thinking to continue writing about my journey to be an educator. But let’s see how it goes. Until then, signing off from PGDE 7043.
Amalina.
P/s : The other day, I stalked my SIGS teachers on Facebook. It was good to see all of them looking good and healthy. I pray all my teachers are in the pink of health.
