KAPIT: Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development, Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi officiated at the ‘Leaders Meet The People’ session held at SK Lepong Baleh, one of the rural primary schools in Baleh here, last weekend.
The one-day programme was organised by the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of SK Lepong Baleh to prepare for the Primary Six pupils sitting for their coming UPSR examinations this September. The event was also attended by heads of departments, local community leaders, parents, teachers and pupils of the school.
To coincide with the programme a motivation talk was also held conducted by experienced facilitators and teachers who talked on subjects such as English, Bahasa Malaysia, Science and Mathematics.
The talk, among others, was to motivate the pupils to be well prepared for their UPSR examinations.
It was Nanta’s second visit to SK Lepong Baleh this year.
In his speech Nanta said that the school was a platform to acquire knowledge and skills and urged parents to prioritise the education of their children.
“I can see that the infrastructure facilities in this school have improved a lot. Based on information I gathered, this school has improved since 2016 in the UPSR examinations and also in curricular activities as well at state level for example in the ‘pantun’ (poetry) and talent show singing.
“In future, our children must be smart, knowledgeable and be skilful workers to compete with others from the urban centres,” said Nanta.
Turning his attention to teachers Nanta said they (teachers) are the professional educators.
“As professionals you must do your best to educate the pupils. Parents must also prioritise their children’s education. I appeal to the headmaster and teachers to double their efforts to educate the pupils to live up to their parents’ expectations.
“We want to know how many pupils with straight As and how many of them are able to further their study at university or continue to skill training centres. Education is a life-long learning process,” Nanta said.
He was also happy to note that SK Lepong Baleh has been identified as one of the 10 primary schools in the state for the ‘Sekolah Transformasi 2025’ (TS25) which means that there are specific programmes to assist the school to attain higher performance and to become an exemplary school.
He also explained that the selection was based on various aspects.
Among the crucial ones included the teaching (teacher) and support staff (clerical) of the
school who have shown their acceptability to ensure the success of the TS25 programme where 100 schools have been selected nationwide.
“This school (SK Lepong Baleh) is considered a big school with a pupils population of 396, with 34 teachers and supported by 13 clerical staffers. Almost half of the pupils are day scholars while the rest resided in the school hostel. At the moment the school has just enough facilities but needed more classrooms, a science laboratory to cater to the growing pupil population,” said Nanta.
He also explained that the population keeps on growing because the area is central and this school is strategically located and many people from rural Baleh they moved down to Kapit. But all the primary school in Kapit very congested that they (parent) do not mind to send their children here just a few kilometers away with good road linking Kapit.
“It is obvious that this school can develop into one of the better schools later on because of the TS25. And although it is not at the town centre it has good road links to the town. This programme focuses on the motivation talks involving parents, teachers and pupils to prepare them to become a better school,” said Nanta.
He also pointed out that SK Lepong Baleh has the potential and he urged the parents to co-operate with the school’s authority, especially the headmaster, Malang Biat and his staffers to ensure the TS25 is a success.
“To all the school staffers, I urged you to continue to be dedicated to the school, to your job because this school has been selected for the TS25 programme. Over the years, you have done a good job and you should continue to do so because the success of the TS25 programme is on you. We must put our heads together, parents, teachers, pupils, department and local community to ensure the success of the TS25 programme. I would be proud because although we are considered a rural school we can rise up to the expectations. As the elected representative I will do my best to assist,” said Nanta.
Among those present were the school headmaster, Malang Biat and school PTA chairman, Akun Ugas, an officer from Kapit Education Department office, Sigau Nyantau, an officer in charge of the examination section, headmaster of SK Sungai Amang, John Lang, Political secretary to the Chief Minister, Tapah Ata, teachers and local community leaders and parents.
