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Friday 8 May 2009

It was INDEED a long ride!

I've gone on trips, profession related and today's was indeed a long one. I just wish it was more on professional development than dropping by places that aren't relevant (for me personally). So I must admit. People! I have wasted my Friday!!

The 2 hours visit at SM Kebangsaan Merbau was a very unforgettable one. We were greeted with 'hadrah' and 'bunga rampai' with teachers and students (most in coats so I assumed they were the school prefects) greeting us from the school main gate all the way to the Conference Room. The school was so clean and tidy. I wonder why our Bruneian kids seem to dislike cleanliness and perfect furniture in schools here.

The briefing on the school itself was very detailed: going from its history (with the background music of 'Titanic' hehe) right up to its mission, vision, 'war shout', logo and its symbols, population and so forth. All these were presented by its Head Prefect. What a fluent young girl. I think she was only 15.

Next, we were taken to witness Secondary 3 students at the woodwork area. Chatting with the teachers there, students from Secondary 1 to 3 are made compulsory to take skill work courses. When they reach Secondary 4, they are then allowed to choose courses they wish to pursue. The lesson starts as early as 7am right up till 12.30pm. It comprises of Secondary 1 till Pre-Uni classes. Each teacher has 25 periods (heaven!!) but of at least 45 students per class (erk!!). Apart from that, teachers have extra duties in the afternoon. With 2,800 students in that school, and only 150 teachers, I salute whoever serves there!

The kids were shy but we admire their art and craft works. The lesson on board showed that the course is presented in Malay. It's amazing to see the chalked lesson was Maths related, something about calculating how much one should be paid over a piece of work done. Amazing!

At the Counseling Section, I gotta say! They have so many things to do in that one small room! This section handles the school's action plans, finance, up-dating individual students personal files, apart from of course providing counseling sessions with those students in need. What amazed me was, this section handles students with discipline problem AFTER they were punished by the school admin. So their main job is making these punished students to realise WHY they were punished in first hand. I tell you! How this section works is way different from how counseling functions are done here in Brunei.

Back to the Conference Room, we had some tea and Malay 'kuehs' and another briefing on the counseling part. The section alone handles 16 responsibilities, some I've mentioned above. What's nicer, they have their uniform! Purple coat-like top and black skirt (for the female counselors). After the briefing, we had lunch, before again viewing the beauty of the school.

What I'd like to bring back to our school is to put up those sign boards of countdown to exams as well as dates of exams for parents to see, somewhere located at the school parking lot. Also, the list of emergency contact numbers, also located at strategic places around the school. Motivational phrases should also be brought into the school, like how the SMK Merbau is doing. The dozens of motivational phrases are put up at the school canteen areas, just the right place where kids would sit and read.

The visit was meaningful. I just wish we had more time there at the school so we could see the classrooms and labs up close, rather than wasting (my) time shopping at the town, or (forced to) listening to 'dangdut' songs on the bus!! What a waste!!


PS: Will upload pictures in the next entry. I am exhausted and need my sleep. Tomorrow is another long day: CCA in the afternoon and BBQ-ing at Junjong B&B with my Drama team at 4pm onwards. Ngaleh ku kamuuuuu ...............

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

cikgu I am really like your writing. Banyak info2 mcm pasal pulau2, lawatan cikgu ke Miri dll. Why cikgu inde menulis ke BB or mP...They really like your stories anie, BUT sesuaikan saja tulisan atu untuk paper.I am also one of the freelance writer disana cikgu and I am happy kalau meliat artikel ku dan gambar2 ku ada kena published cikgu..so mengapa you inda cuba....

Suzila A said...

Hi anonymous. Thanks for dropping by my blog and enjoying it :)

"They"? Are you saying BB and MP people drop by here too? Malu ku eyyhhhh huhu~~

Anyway, I did write to MP when I was younger, years ago and it felt so great seeing my story's published (and paid!! Hehe).

Hmm .. InsyaAllah. When I have the time and thanks for the support dear. It means a lot :)

Anonymous said...

HEHHE cikgu I am MOE pople jua and I am a writer with bb and MP even to Berita Harian Msia....unfortunately masa anie BB inda lagi membayar anything yang about education alasan durang I am from MOE....I am really sad about it, apatah lagi bukan sanang menulis anie and I am talking about 600 to 1200 payment per month nie....BTW cikgu yang pasal tempat2 menarik atu like KK , etc I really like it dan hantar ia ke BB cikgu biar kitanie dapat kongsisama arah org ramai . Atupun yang dijunjungan mun ku inda menyubuk your blog anie inda me tahu bah..really like your writing....

Suzila A said...

Hi again :) Oh wow! Thanks again. You made me feel like a true writer now eiseh!! ;) *kamvanggg*

I have been wanting to write to the paper about Dinawan Resort Island and how much I enjoyed staying there however, it concerns me whether it would be appropriate to do so. I mean, wouldn't the Dinawan office side mind me doing so? Wouldn't it raise issues? My point is, if I don't have Dinawan's permission to write about it, would I be in trouble?

Last night alone, I had a long chat with the owner of Junjong B&B and asked their permission for me to write about the rest house to BB or MP. Apparently, they DO mind and would like to stay low profile, at least for the time being as they are not yet ready to really expose it to the public. Well, I know it's a different case since Brunei is small and all. I understand their decision. They don't mind me sharing about me staying at Junjong B&B in this blog though since they have their own blog jua ... To the paper, they are not yet ready since there will be more people reading the paper I guess ... I respect their decision.

On the other hand, my sharing about my visits within Brunei with Mona Flora Fauna (Kampong Ayer day tour, Kampong Ayer and Proboscis Monkey Tour, Kampong Sungai Matan Tour and Brunei River Night Safari Tour) was a mutual decision. They were informed about it and they didn't mind at all that I wrote about their packages in this blog. With Dinawan ... I am not so sure ... I only 'berani' sharing about it in this blog. In BB or MP, I am not 'berani' yet ...

Anyway, thanks again for being a good support :) You made my day!! :D

PS: I will sure write to the paper one day. I did write to Brunei Times about an occasion in my previous school workplace last February however they never got it published. I posted it in the school's Maths Blog instead since the occasion was under the Maths Department :)

I AM AN ARIES: The Daredevil (huh??)

Energetic (yea, in many ways)

Adventurous and spontaneous (definitely)

Confident and enthusiastic (yup!)

Fun (hmm ... I should ask my friends that!)

Loves a challenge (100%)

EXTREMELY impatient (well, I hate waiting. Does that count??)

Sometimes selfish (am I??)

Short fuse; easily angered (hell yeah!)

Lively, passionate and sharp wit (hmm ... No comment!)

Outgoing (for sure!)

Lose interest quickly - easily bored (most of the time)

Egostical (in some ways; my baby says "in MANY ways" LOL!!)

Courageous and assertive (I agree!)

Tends to be physical and athletic (hmm ... Naah!!)

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My engagement: 01.01.10

My engagement: 01.01.10
Suzila Ahmad

The engagement ring :)

A cake from him

For him

With my dad & Sharul's :)

With my mum and his :)

With two of my closest girlfriends: Azean & Yanti :)