In certain areas like Batu Rakit and Mengabang Telipot, there are many Form 5 students who do not have the capability to achieve sufficient grades in the SPM to take them further to Universities. Their grades certainly do not allow them entry to study medicine or technical degrees. The root of their failure lies in their weakness in key subjects especially English and Mathematics. This weakness is not due to the students' lack of intelligence, skill or desire to succeed. For most, it is the absence of proper guidance and teaching of the fundamentals of these subjects. This weak foundation at the Standard 6 level aggravates any chances of a strong understanding of these subjects at Form 1 and beyond. The situation is made worse when they are left to the mercy of a class of weak students and delinquents. Although they excel in other subjects, they are denied the chance to further their education in the fields which they are more capable and interested in, because they have not achieved the level required in English and Mathematics. Therefore during the initial stages, Almanar focused on the plight of students such as these. At the end of 1996, a building was erected to the name of Almanar. It has four classrooms, the biggest of which could contain up to 30 students. In addition to supporting the two main subjects, English and Mathematics, Almanar also houses reference books for all the other subjects, novels, selected magazines, a computer and overhead projector. The students are encouraged to use and take ownership of the facilities. There are those who have finally found a conducive studying environment which they did not have previously. For the fraction of students who are willing and talented but are hindered by financial means, assistance is given by Almanar in the form of bicycles, medical help etc. Challenges One of the two main challenges has been the reliance on just one person to provide all the support. At the beginning of 2001, there are over 140 students who require attention, everyday during the morning and afternoon sessions. The number of students is expected to grow. To address this issue, steps have been taken to get cooperation from centers of higher learning in the local area, including Univesiti Kolej Terengganu, Teaching College etc. Assistance in the form of more educators will allow Almanar to broaden its teaching scope to include subjects other than English and Mathematics. 
The second challenge and the more difficult of the two, is trying to get total commitment from the students to give their best under the guidance of Almanar. It is difficult to convince them, including their parents, to fully utilise the free facilities provided by Almanar. The First Chapter In the middle of 1997, a group of 20 students were selected from a local secondary school. Selection was made by the teachers based on their potential and relatively good UPSR results from Standard 6. Unfortunately, this pioneering group dwindled to 10 by the time the PMR exams (Form 3) were taken in 1999. They had been with Almanar for two and a half years studying English and Mathematics. Three students were also replaced during that time making a total of students who had quit or stopped due to the lack of commitment to 13. Despite this, the results of the remaining students were encouraging. Eight of the ten students attained A's for Mathematics. In English, 4 achieved A's and 4 achieved B's. This resulted in 8 of them being awarded places for full boarding schools starting from Form 4. However, only 6 accepted the offers. With these results, support is no longer necessary beyond Form 3. They now have the proper foundation to succeed at higher levels of the subject. The headmaster of the school acknowledges the positive impact that Almanar has had on these students. Heads and teachers from many of the local schools now play an active role in selecting and promoting their students to the services provided by Almanar. 
Onwards From this initial effort, Almanar has carried on taking students annually from Form 1. From experiences gathered in the last three years, students from Standard 4 are now being admitted to Almanar. This new approach, earlier into their academic life, will provide them with an even more sound foundation in English and Mathematics. In September 2000, 40 students from the said level was selected. Almanar is still changing and evolving. Its strengths and weaknesses are constantly evaluated, providing the future direction of Almanar's growth.
BERBAKTI KERANA TUHAN UNTUK KEMANUSIAN
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