Special Form-One girls

The number of children joining tuition classes at Almanar has, much to my dismay, dwindled over the last few years. Some years ago I used to have to deal with an intake of around 40 Form-One children. That number would go down to about half or less by the time they sat for their Form Three (PMR) examination three years later. It is Almanar’s open policy that children who show no interest should leave us voluntarily, or else would be asked to.

Three years ago the intake into Form One dropped to around 20. And early this year the figure dropped further to just 16 children, seven of whom were boys. Believe it or not, it is pathetic to see that  today that small number has run down to just FOUR – without a single male.

One would expect Pakcik to be totally despondent over the situation. No, the good side of the situation has, instead, placed me in an enthusiastic mood. After all I still have other classes and I am expecting a new group to join Almanar classes before the coming end-of-the-year school holidays.

The four girls prove that they are worthy of being given help and attention which would enable them to stand a good chance to advance academically. 

Let us look briefly at these four special girls. We will identify them as Nor, Nora, Norma and Normadiah

 L to R : Nor, Nora, Norma & Normadiah

 ______________________ 

Nor

Nor’s family is no stranger to Pakcik and Makcik. Her elder sister is a successful ex-Almanar pupil, married hardly two months ago and working with a bank in Selangor. I have known her father, a tractor driver, ever since we moved here twenty years ago. From time to time I rely on his services to clear the thick bushes growing outside our perimeter fence. Nor scored 4 A’s and 1 B in her UPSR examination end of last year.

_____________________

Nora
      

Nora has an elder brother studying in the same school which runs on two sessions, morning classes for Form One and Form Two, and afternoon classes for Form Three and higher. Following Nora’s unusual absence from Almanar classes for two days and my subsequent enquiry into the reason, I found out that she and her brother had not been to their school as well, simply because the one bicycle they shared needed repairs badly.  Despite adverse circumstances Nora had to face she scored 3 A’s and 2 B’s in her UPSR.

To alleviate Nora’s current problem Pakcik immediately helped her to own a new bicycle. In return I had the satisfaction of seeing the delight on her face and her mother's. I am certain, knowing there are people who care, Nora will have greater motivation to work herself harder.

  Nora and her new machine

 ____________________ 

Norma

Norma’s father passed away eight years ago. Doing some odd business to earn a living her single mother dotes on this charming girl, being her only child who shows an early promise to succeed in her studies. To prove herself to her mother she obtained all A’s in her UPSR examination last year.

______________________________ 

Normadiah

Pakcik will relate what happened three years ago.  Makcik had just returned home from a short trip to London. During her stay there she was taken by Awang Goneng and wife for a meal at a Malay restaurant. In the course of conversation with the restaurant owner’s family, Makcik mentioned Pengkalan Maras where she came from.  At that point the restaurant owner’s son-in-law excitedly mentioned that one of his sisters was at one time a pupil at Almanar. On her return Makcik related this incidence to Pakcik; but without proper name and time Pakcik could not figure out who the sister was. Subsequently, it was Normadiah who told Pakcik recently about her having a married elder brother working at a Malay restaurant in London. The girl referred to by her brother was an elder sister to her. What a small world it is.

But there is more to it about Normadiah than just having a brother in London. She is number 14 of FIFTEEN siblings. This is an all-time record for Almanar. I only know of one family (nothing to do with Almanar tuition) with 14 children. 

Last week Normadiah did not attend class as she was required to stay by her father’s bedside at a hospital after undergoing a surgery. Some years ago he retired from the army.  

Normadiah & father

_________________

So, these are the four girls I currently have  in Form One.  Every one of them deserves to be helped. Exhibiting the right studying attitude gives Pakcik a much greater pleasure to teach them than a group of forty.

They are my very special Form-One girls.

   

Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan