Remote school tops Kota Marudu UPSR performance

KOTA MARUDU, November 27, 2011 -- The rural pupils of far-flung SK Magandai have shown that when given opportunity, technological support and with self -determination they can excel just as well as urban children.

It was historical for the school, when it scored a 87.5% passing rate for this year’s UPSR, more than double last year’s 41.6% passing. The school also became the best Kota Marudu school for UPSR passing.

“A helping hand and caring heart have given the pupils and their families a brighter future. It was also a combination of technology, determination and sheer hard work by all – the pupils themselves, the teachers, their parents and the corporate sector Astro,” Kota Marudu MP Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Maximus Ongkili said.

The Science, Technology and Innovation Minister said this when handing out his incentive to the jubilant 16 UPSR pupils of SK Magandai who each got RM100 for each A they scored and RM50 for each B.

He said that SK Magandai’s improvement in UPSR performance was thanks to the dedication of its pupils and teachers aided by Astro which provided a hostel, learning tools and technology and revision programme to urge the pupils along.

“The UPSR results show rural pupils can perform as well as urban pupil when given the same attention and technological support. They can be super kids when giving the same chance,” said Dr Ongkili.

At the same ceremony, Astro Community Affairs Management vice-president David Michael Yap also gave school bags to each of the pupils as well as incentives to the teachers who were also instrumental in their success.

Before this, it had always been a challenge go to school for the pupils who lived in villages hours away by foot from the school. Class attendance was poor and their studies suffered. The small, wooden hostel at the school could only accommodate a few.

Their plight took a better turn when Astro collaborated with Dr Ongkili to improve their welfare, living conditions and studies. Astro through its Astro Kasih programme, built a modern, concrete hostel fit for an urban school. Its opening in May this year saw a sharp increase in class attendance as many of the pupils could now live near the school.

Astro and the MP also set a goal for the school to double its UPSR passing. In 2009, the school registered a 50% pass and had no UPSR pass in 2008.

Astro then initiated an “Road to UPSR programme” providing access to its learning system (with an LCD television, Astro satellite TV decoder, 15 international and local education channels, including Astro UPSR Tutor TV.) The teachers were also taught to use new learning methods and modules to revise for the UPSR.

Astro’s David Yap said Astro volunteers had worked with the teachers to create and conduct an intensive, 12–week UPSR revision programme. The students were given exclusive tutorial booklets and were tested, graded, and rewarded with honourary badges for their progress in the subjects.

“Students were also given advice on proper methods of revising during the final session of Astro’s “Road to UPSR” programme which was co-hosted by Astro employees and the teachers from the Majilis Guru Cemerlang Sabah of Kota Marudu, with the aid of Kota Marudu District Education Office.

“We are very happy for the enormous success of the students and our volunteer’s efforts,” said Yap.

Dr Ongkili added that the pupil’s proud success was a shining example of responsibility shared by the teachers, the pupil’s parents and a caring corporate sector.

“With the learning facilities and solid foundation in place, we wish for SK Magandai to continue excelling. They will certainly be a motivation for other rural schools,” said Dr Maximus, to whom the UPSR pass was also a personal achievement.

SK Magandai was set up way back in 1996 by the Sabah Journalist Association (SJA). SJA had collected funds to build the school and also paid salary to a temporary teacher to teach the children to finally learn how to read, write and count. A few years later, the school was handed over to the education department.

The happiness and sense of gratitude were shared by the pupils at the ceremony including Sujiksoi Sungsi, who got the best result with 3As and 2Bs. Sujiksoi was also happy to be told he would also get a RM30 monthly allowance from the KDCA.

“Living at the hostel has helped focus on his studies. I will never forget the kind Astro volunteers who helped me with my revision. My ambition now is to become a doctor,” he said smiling.

Also there were Sabah deputy education director, Hajjah Maimunah Suhaibul, assistant district education officer Abdul Rahim Tapah and SK Magandai headmaster Juaridi Masandang.

The Kampus Astro project, which started in 2008, has reached 9800 schools thus far nationwide, providing them with the necessary equipments and giving them access to education channels. The education initiative which aims to provide wholesome and educational content to students has touched the lives of so many students as witnessed at SK Magandai.