Terima kasih

I was about 500 km away from Kuala Terengganu when a call came through on my hand-phone. It was noon on 23rd March; the day SPM results were announced.

“ Ini Syami, Pakcik. Terima kasih Pakcik. Saya dapat semua A”, the boy’s voice came through. I could imagine a broad smile on his face. As if that was not enough I still put in a question, “How about the grade for GCE English?”

“Itu saya dapat 1A.” That satisfied me. ( Many would get A+ for the SPM English but not necessarily 1A under GCE marking, which is more meaningful to Pakcik )

This is the time of the year I can hope to share the joy of my ex Almanar pupils, those who have managed to take in all the scolding during their basic three years at secondary school level and strived forwards.


----------------


I returned home yesterday. And this morning three boys stayed to wait in my house until I finished a class at Almanar, across the road. I was pleased to see the cheerful faces of these three boys.



Right to left: Syami (9 As), Faiz (4As) and Azrol (8As)

At least the few boys I have at Almanar can perform no less. The girls would probably come later to make merry or moan. But these three boys, from deserving families, give me enough reason to put in a quick posting. Syami is the first in his family to be tutored at Almanar, Faiz and Azrol the third in their respective families, their elders being undergraduates at various universities, one of whom is finishing dentistry in Bandung.

A note to my ex Almanar pupils:
I congratulate you all and wish you the best. This is just the beginning. To those who have not performed satisfactorily,Pakcik would remind you that this is not the end of the world. I will always offer you a shoulder to cry on. Come over and we will discuss what we can do next.

Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan

A sad side to it

The face of the girl stepping into the Photostating shop looked familiar. I was surveying her face when she turned and noticed me. Almost spontaneously she showed sign of recognition. Seeing a blank on my face she asked politely, “Pakcik, lupa saya?”

I apologized and for that she offered to introduce herself. Her name is Fauziah (not her real name). She used to attend tuition classes at Almanar. As an aid to jog my memory she mentioned two boys’ names who joined Almanar in early 2005, Azmi and Fazil (also not real names). Unlike these two boys who stayed on until PMR and continued to visit Almanar, she stayed on for a few months only. There was a tinge of regret in the way she said it. She knew, mentioning the two boys’ name would help. There are among the success story of my earlier posting ( 2009 SPM – Against the trend!). Azmi has 9A’s to his credit in his SPM and Fazil 8A’s.

Indeed, linking herself to that group helped me to place her. But she must have suddenly realised her mistake. I would quite naturally ask how she fared herself in the exam. She never bargained for that I am sure. In an undertone she murmured that her results were not so good, obtaining only 3 subjects with A grade, P.Islam, B.Melayu and Geography. To exonerate her lack luster she quickly volunteered, “You remember Akmal,( not real name) don’t you? She also left Almanar like me. She obtained just 2A’s , in Pendidikan Seni and Islam. She got E grades in English and Maths.” So there were others who performed worse!

Indeed Fauziah did not do badly. Many have done very much worse. But to Pakcik it was a shame for she had the potential to do better. To illustrate my point, let us examine briefly the progress of the four children in the five years they were in the secondary school. They had just completed their UPSR exam. They were at par with each other at the start.

Student	UPSR 2004	PMR 2007	SPM 2009
Azmi	2A's; 3B's	8A's	9A's
Fazil	2A's; 2B's; 1C	8A's	8A's
Fauziah	3A's; 1B; 1C	2A's	3A's
Akmal	2A's; 3B's	2A's	2A's

The two girls faltered all the way and something had inspired the boys to prove their worth.

I feel sorry for the girls and for many others. I would have less pity if they had come from well-to-do urban families. But here in the backwater of great development, it is not just their future but at stake is the future of their parents and families as a whole, and the community.

I feel truly sorry for Fauziah and Akmal. What had gone sour for them?

This was what Pakcik feared and this was one of the reasons why Almanar was established sixteen years ago, to lend a hand to the needy. Our system, with the rigidity of established rules, formats and guidelines, and often lacking in caring and humane approaches, may indeed put some children at a disadvantage. And these may be the very children who are the most deserving to be given help and guidance.

Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan

2009 SPM – Against the trend!

TWELVE out of sixteen pupils (75%) are BOYS, and BOYS occupy the top seven positions with 7 A’s or more.

Please do no not say to Pakcik, “Tell it to the marines!”

Instead have a good look at what we have below:

Total = 16 pupils ( 12 boys & 4 girls )

No. of pupils	No. of A's each
1 (boy)	10
2 (both boys)	9
3 (all boys)	8
1 (boy)	7
5	6
3	5
1	4

These were the sixteen pupils who attended Almanar classes for three years from Form 1 to Form 3 (2005 to 2007).

No, Almanar cannot claim credit for the SPM results of these 16 pupils. If at all, these pupils can only be thankful to Almanar for giving them the help when they most needed in subjects like English, Maths and Science during the three years after their UPSR. Most of them, on registering at Almanar, had obtained 3A grades and below, except for a boy and a girl achieving 5A’s each and another boy with 4A’s. Nevertheless, not unlike many kampong children, they never lacked what is needed to succeed. Three years later, 10 of them (8 boys and 2 girls) gained 8A’s each in their PMR exam. Following that creditable performance, a number of them were offered places in better schools to continue with their Form 4 studies. Many continued to call at Almanar during the following two years. They treated Almanar, and still do, as a convenient place to meet, to compare notes or even to do their small group studies.

---------------------------

Of particular interest to Pakcik is how they performed in their SPM exam particularly in English, Modern Maths and Additional Maths. Putting aside all the sarcastic remarks and the harsh man-to-man talks with Pakcik, had these pupils continued to benefit from what they learnt at Almanar in these three subjects? I was anxious to know and now I know.

It is, therefore, so very fulfilling and gratifying to notice that ten out of the sixteen obtained A grade in English. All the sixteen passed their Modern Maths with A Grade. In Additional Maths, the more difficult mathematical subject, seven obtained A and another seven obtained B grade.

No. of pupils passed with Grades A, B & C

Subject	Grade A	Grade B	Grade C
English	10	5	1
Maths	16	0	0
Add Maths	7	7	2

If number and academic performance of female pupils should favour girls as the accepted rule of thumb, the above figures certainly do not represent the national statistics for SPM achievers. Admittedly there is a twist to the whole situation, a disturbing story to tell.

It all began five years ago, soon after pupils had started their Form 1 class.

To cut the story short, Almanar had, as a matter of fact, more than 30 pupils initially when the form 1 tuition class began early 2005. The number of girls, indeed, exceeded boys. It was also true that the girls’ UPSR exam results were generally better. All was well and things started smoothly until the authority of the secondary school they were attending attempted to rectify a problem the school was facing. The school which could offer some boarding facility had not been able to attract enough number to fill the hostel beds. Very few parents were keen to allow their children to move in. For one thing the school was within easy reach of most houses. Many could idly cycle there and back. Some were sent to school on motor-cycles by brothers, sisters, mothers or whoever, and many others took school buses which collected reasonable fares. At the same time one must not underestimate the economic factors involved.

To the dismay of most parents, pupils in the top class of form 1 were put under pressure to go into hostel. Promises were made by the school authority of a hostel environment conducive to study, of good food and lots and lots of extra tuition classes etc. Quite typical, one parent moaned over his difficulty to make available the cash needed to pay for his daughter to join the hostel. One hundred ringgits may be pittance to many but not to some. Parents like this did not have the courage to speak up. PIBG meetings are almost always silent endorsement to what a school Principal wants to bulldoze.

Pakcik was against such a move by the school and voiced strongly to the parents of those who had already joined Almanar classes. Based on past records I knew it too well the academic records of children staying at the hostel were dismal to say the least. A number of parents, however, relented under pressure from the school. Many girls with good potential left Almanar to stay at the hostel. Sadly, many of them subsequently opted to leave their hostel life, disillusioned.

That was how, for once, Almanar had a group unnaturally tilted in number and good exam results towards male pupils.

------------------

By now all the 16 pupils have turned up at Pakcik’s home with ““Pakcik, what do you think I should do?” question. My answer invariably goes along the theme expressed in

Ukur baju dibadan sendiri

It is well and good to have high ambition and all. Many ‘pakar motivasi’, who often address themselves with Doktor ( PhD) Datuk and all, would expound their text-book theories the need to aim for the moon. I cannot not simply look at the faces of these children without reflecting on the reality that their parents are wondering what and when their children’s A’s would translate into dollars and cents for the family, and ease the pain and tiredness at the end of a hard day’s work. These children must fully realise that they cannot, years from now, make excuses:

“ Hajat hati nak peluk gunung. Apakan daya tangan tak sampai.”

A choice has to be tailored towards an assurance that he or she is able to take home dollars and cents at the end of the day, leaving aside the need to satisfy one’s ego of achievement. Pakcik will in due course explain why my way of thinking is more conservative with regard to higher education for many of these kampong children. It is hard for many in the urban areas to accept the reality that it is not altogether a level playing field despite the number of A’s scored. Many of them need to practice running up the small hills before attempting a snow-capped mountain. In all cases there must be rooms to improve themselves.

Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan

11 / 11 The Poppy Day

The occasion is not a good enough reason to close our Almanar. But, regretfully, Pak Cik will not conduct any classes from 11/11 to 14/11. For what is worth, let us say Pak Cik will be busy for my SPM exam!

Pak Cik Reminisces (Part 5) : 11-11-11

To those associated with Almanar, who will be sitting for the dreaded SPM exam, Pak Cik can only hope and pray that you will do as well as you can. Please remember, how important we see the SPM exam, we, human, cannot dictate its outcome.

Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan.

Well Done Cikgu

Maka berduyun-duyunlah datang yang berhormat dan yang tak berhormat memuji dan menunjukkan rasa takjub dan rasa belas kasihan – kerana Madihah cemerlang dalam peperiksaan SPM.


Nik Nur Madihah had lived for 17 years and suddenly all eyes have been focused on her and her family. Pak Cik admire her no less but I feel equally sorry for so many, many others like her, many of whom have never reached anywhere to be noticed, let alone to be given some tea and sympathy.

Last month, Pak Cik was requested to see a group of 20 ‘selected’ (top) pupils of standard 6. Half of them are fishermen’s children, like Madihah. The school has about 40 pupils in standard 6. During the last four years, only three students have scored all 5A’s in their UPSR exam. Can we say that over these years not one child from this school deserves sympathy and encouragement? To gauge their understanding in maths, I gave those 20 ‘selected’ pupils a test from STANDARD ONE maths. Surprise, surprise, a number of them were not sure of eleven, twelve and thirteen, and few did not know the meaning of 'near’ in ‘nearest to’.

What future will these innocent faces have without help today?

Last week I was equally astounded to find that none of my current twenty odd FORM One pupils could tell me the difference between 'we', 'our' and 'us'. Believe me, these are not children without brain. You, who have been through Almanar, know it too well how many of you have managed to get all A’s in your PMR exams. You are not of poorer quality in brain-power than many others, though you may be poor in many other aspects. You needed a chance, were given it and have pulled through, some with distinction.

Nik Nur Madihah is not a miracle and it should not be necessary for a child to have scored 20 A’s before a silent cry for help begins to draw attention. We should never forget that she is unlikely to have achieved her success without the school (Sekolah Menengah Arab Maahad Muhammadi, Kota Bharu, Kelantan) and its teachers. Pak Cik would want to loudly say, “Well done cikgu. You all have lived up to what is expected of your noble profession. Keep up with the excellent contribution to the community around you.”

Pak Cik will end this particular posting with a few lines quoted from an article written by the great Pendita Zaaba way back in 1927, more than 80 years ago:

“….. Kita sangat kekurangan orang yang berperasaan gemar pada faedah-faedah ramai (orang yang public spirit kata orang putih). Barangkali yang berperasaan demikian belum ada satu orang dalam tiap-tiap 10.000 orang Melayu melainkan kebanyakan masing-masing menilik kepada faedah diri, loba kempada tembolok sendiri, tamak ke perut sendiri ‘kalau kita sendiri tak dapat faedah apa guna?’ ………”

Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan.

STOP PRESS - Congratulations

This is one of the days that make Pak Cik forget my age and how tired I can be. I have just heard two pieces of good news. Firstly, the person, of whom I wrote in The End Of The Tunnel – In Sight – (Part 3) – It Is His Lucky Day, has obtained all 9A1 in the recent SPM exam. His dream of becoming a doctor is non-stoppable now, insya Allah. I wonder whether his father stops manning his road side ‘sugar cane’ stall to celebrate the day. He stopped for a while yesterday just to send a second daughter to Almanar on his old motorbike.

Secondly, a girl associated with Almanar has obtained 8A1 and 1A2 (in Ugama of all subjects!) in the same nine subjects. Since she has A1 in all the maths and science subjects she may want to consider going for a first-class honours degree in Islamic study, to make good!

I am lost for words on such an occasion as this. Hope there will be more good news coming.

My heartiest congratulations go to all of you my dear.

The End Of The Tunnel – In Sight- (Part 3)- It is His Lucky Day

An old office colleague, now a successful entrepreneur, turned up from Kuala Lumpur with his family, grandchildren and all. How pleasant it was for us, living in this quiet part of the world, to receive such a visit and sit lingering over a lunch. Before parting he passed Pak Cik a sum of money in cash plus one cheque, saying that it was to be used at Almanar for whatever purpose I found it appropriate. That was two days ago, a visit unexpected and fund unsolicited.

Yesterday afternoon, an ex-Almanar pupil came over to consult Pak Cik over an offer she received for a one-year foundation course for medicine. On successful completion of the course, the sponsors would send him to an overseas university. SPM results will only be known in two months’ time. That a pupil is selected today for such a highly demanded course must reflect an expection of an excellent SPM result. He must also have satisfied his interviewers at a session a month ago. I have known him since he joined Almanar five years ago after getting 4A and 1B in his UPSR exam. Three years later he obtained 8As in his PMR which earned him a place in a prestigious boarding school. So to all intents and purposes he is a good bet. So all things considered, Pak Cik advised him to accept the offer.

Alas, there was a snag, an immense problem to him, as a matter of fact. He was advised that some expenses, including the registration fee, had to be borne by him. A normal family may not bat an eye over a sum of the size quoted. But for a bread-winner, working at a factory and with eleven mouths to feed, the sum creates a major obstacle. How on earth can the family afford the sum which must be ready on registration in less than one week? How timely it was that a do-gooder came to Pak Cik’s house just one day earlier. Pak Cik handed my ex-pupil some cash from what I had received, telling him that it was not out my pocket. He cried bitterly over the unexpected gift. God works in a mysterious way.

Pak Cik, as a facilitator, an intermediary can only pray that one day this pupil will be a doctor, one with humility and huminity – Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan.

Judging from the way he has performed thus far, he will, in a matter of time, be out of the long dark tunnel. And so is Pak Cik’s continued expectation of you all, ex-Almanar pupils. But do not hope for it without sustained effort, your own sweat.

P/s:
Pak Cik cannot at this point disclose this pupil’s identity. Hopefully, I will be able to do so when he has gone through the tunnel, Insya' Allah.

2001 SPM Results

SPM RESULTS

Early 1997 a small group of students , the pioneer group, joined Almanar as Form One students for our special English and Mathematics classes.Three years later this group left us and their original primary school to join other secondary schools , day as well as residential schools in the country . Today, with a sense of gratitude and pride , we offer our congratulations to this pioneer group who have successfully passed their SPM examination held at the end of 2001. One student, a girl, went as far as obtaining 7A1's and 1A2 ; and others with 7, 6A's and so on. We would like to feel that we did give them something while they were with us during their foundation years.

It is even more rewarding to us that thus far one has left to join the Metriculation course at MRSM college, Kulim, aspiring to be a doctor. Three others have left to join a similar course at the more enviable MRSM college, Banting, two also hoping to ultimately join medical courses and one engineering. We are hopeful that shortly the rest will also be offered places for further studies.

New Intakes

Pressure on our daily schedule and the need to offer more places for Secondary School pupils have forced us to reduce the intakes from Primary schools. Almanar is now running four classes for pupils of Form One to Form Three with a total enrolment of about 80 pupils. The recent SPM results have given a clear indication that emphasis at these three levels optimises our current limited capability.

2001 Class Size

In May 2001, Almanar is running classes with a total enrolment of about 130 students.
The exact number varies slightly from time to time resulting from voluntary
or forced withdrawals and new intakes. A few do find it tough to conform to
the strict academic demand here. To maintain an acceptable high standard Almanar cannot compromise. Those few will leave or have to leave.
The breakdown of the current classes is as follows :

A small number of students who joined before 1997 , that is before the construction of the school building proper, are already in several universities and colleges. While those who joined Almanar in 1997 (Form 1) and studied until 1999 (Form 3) will be sitting for their SPM examination in December this year,2001. They are now in their Form 5 in various secondary schools in the country, some in full boarding schools.