MENDING AN EXCELLENT SCHOOL

Finally the Vocational Secondary School Alor Setar was selected as a bench mark school. All technical and vocational schools in the nation were directed to make a visit, learn and  observe the whole school's setup. The year 1998 to 2000 saw wave of visitors coming from all over. Even the Ministry of Education didn't miss it.

Since I first step in, the school gradually  improved. It won several awards in several competitions both at the local and national level. We did not decorate our school like many are doing today.  We gave a slight magic touch here and there, making some basic artistic arrangement to make the school looked beautiful and attractive. The cost was almost zero.  In fact we were the first to turn a dining hall and a school canteen into a hotel like cafetaria. A plastic flower and a simple setup of table cloth made it looked  so grand.

Because of the many successes the Tehinical Division of The Ministry of Education gave a special award . When the State Education Department wanted to launch the School Five Star program our school was used as teh base indicator. The Director of education told his team 'Let's go to see a school which at all time are prepared for anything......'They came by surprise , about 15 of them. The program aimed at making all schools in the state a conducive learning environment.

Our success was not only focussed on physica;l structure and land scaping but also in area of academic achievement. Academic success is not gauge by the number who got the maximum number of A's but by measuring the relation between the input and the output. A school is considered successful if it can turn a moron into somebody who can read and write. I told my teachers to accept low achivers as well and turn them into high quality students. We created a battle cry 'WE GOT TO BE NMBER ONE', instilled the spirit of striving for success, challenged the students to prove themselves and went to their houses if they play thruant. Surely enough the efforts of the teachers pay. We printed their PMR's result side by side with the SPMV's just to show how much improvement they had made. The number of first graders exceeded the first, second and third grader plus and failures combined . The success was maintained.

Happiness and Jealousy - While the school was celebrating the consecutive successes , there were people who were not happy with us. Some egoistic Principals were sneered at . During the time of appraisal one school Principal commented "Your school cannot get a high grade because......". So the state education department never recognize us over many years. BUT  in 1992 and 1993 the Town Council chose us to be the best school in the region. The Principal of SM Sultanah Asma went to complaint to the Town Counselor for awarding us with first  prize. "The school is wealthy. It has all the money to spend....". Finally the Town Councillor halted the competition.  What many did not know was that we never spend money to compete and we never even knew that there were agencies observing us. The old restroom was given a new touch. It came to life when live plants were brought in and some artistics perpects were attached to the doors.

Who Contribute to the Successes ? - Everybody was responsible for making the school as a bench mark. The manual workers were the people who took care of the environment. They planned,  grew plants, made gardens and projects. The students and the teachers built up archers, rest areas and other structures. When the day of getting te prize arrived the school sent the manual worker to represent it to take the award. We were there altogether.

Even at the National Level a senior teacher was sent to collect the award.

Consumers or Producers ? -  We believe that a nation should not be dependence on others at all time. the citizens must have the ability to built, construct and produce. The small habit could bloom into a culture. "Let's build ...',I told the teachers. And we started building when we were free. The guard's house, the administrators parking lots, the canteen's extension, rest houses, tables, chairs and mirrors and many others contsructed. That even went to the school and Principal's room. All teachers gave their utmost support and co-operation.

Some of the Award
1 - Inovation - By the State government - 1993
2 - Second Prize - Inovation under Technical and Vocational Category - 1994
3 - JFirst Prize -  Inovation Technical and Vocational Category 1995
4 - Champion - Kedah Hostel Competition 1996
5 - Second Prize - Quality School's Award at National Level 1998
6 - Second Prize - 5 Star School (Teachers's Day)  1999
7 - Champion - 5 Star School (Teachers's Day)  - at regional level1999

There are a few more awards that went missing and their records were not available a few years after I left the school.

IMPROVING EXCELLENCE SCHOOL

As soon as I left the school, the new administration went on to improve the excellent school. The first thing he did was removing away all the network computers saying internet corrupt student's mind. In this case I find that the Ministry of Education today is stupid enough not to follow the school's example by scrapping away with computers. Then changes after changes took place. The school became better and better. It performed well in the national examination.

The bench mark was snatched away first by Sarawak and later by Johore. I told one of the teachers 'Look at the school's listing to see our position now. Is it still under top 10 in the nation ?"  Since I left the school the number of administrators changed were 3. Many old teachers were still there. They are very good,  excellent and very responsible. You still can send your kids to this school without any fear.

The geese that could lay the golden eggs are there. Use our imagination how to make use of them.