of leadership: from heroic to intoxicated leaders

Dr.Ibrahim, as usual put forward many new options for school and education leaders and managers to ponder on their position at their respective situation. The schools and education institutions in this country can opt to have the various nbtypes of leadership. This is based on the ten quests he outlined as follows:

1. The quest for simplicity

2. The quest for clarity
3. The quest for goodness and authenticity
4. The quest for the rights and responsibilities of all
5. The quest for more knowledge and right knowledge (Knowledge pursuit leaders)
6. The quest for connections and meaning making
7. The quest of self-knowledge
8. The quest for historical literacy
9. The quest for time resource and other resources: timelines, time frames, time periods and targets
10. The quest for balance: The universal and the parochial
He was presenting a key note address for the 1st Regional conference on educational leadership and management held at IAB Utara Jitra 10-12 November 2009. The conference was attended by about 200 participants from 6 countries including Malaysia and was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Tan Sri Muhidin Yassin.

Mengembalikan kebitaraan IAB

Dalam mukaddimahnya kepada 52 orang Ketua Pusat, Ketua Jabatan, Pensyarah Kanan IAB pada 3 November 2009 bertempat di Residence Felda Tekam Jengka Pahang, Datuk Abdul Ghafar Mahmud, Pengarah IAB yang baru telah menggariskan perancangan persepektif IAB untuk lima tahun (2011-2015). Antaranya meneliti semula (revisit) core-business IAB. Beliau berhasrat menyahut seruan dan tuntutan semasa dalam pembangunan pendidikan tanahair.

Apakah kebitaraan IAB yang sebenarnya yang membolehkan ia menjadi antara pemain global dalam pengurusan dan kepimpinan pendidikan? Sesi tiga hari itu amat padat dengan input melalui refleksi yang diagihkan melalui pusat dan cawangan IAB. Perspektif IAB menjelang era baru 2011 apabila dua kampus baru siap (Nilai dan Cawangan Sarawak) ialah memastikan adanya kebitaran setiap cawangan yang memenuhi adicita tersebut di atas.

Datuk Ghafar juga telah menyingkap lembaran baru untuk IAB apabila beliau menyatakan struktur baru IAB 2011 apabila IAB Induk berpindah ke Kampus Nilai dengan tiga cawangan iaitu Sri Layang, Utara dan Sarawak dan empat Urus Setia di Zon Johor, Pantai Timur, Perak dan Sabah. Ini merupakan manifestasi kepada lonjakan profesionalisme berterusan pendidikan dan lingkungan keguruan di Malaysia seperti yang dihasratkan dalam PIPP (2006-2010). IAB dijangka bergerak lebih dinamik, proaktif dan agresif menangani persoalan dalam pembangunan pendidikan tanahair.

RE: Gelaran Datuk Ekspres... dalam kalangan pemimpin juga sudah menular

Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim sekali lagi telah menarik perhatian umum dalam kenyetaannya berhubung dua isu penting: pembelian gelaran sosial dan anugerah ilmiah dalam kalangan rakyat Malaysia. Dalam keghairahan mendapat pengiktirafan status sosial terdapat segelintir individu yang sanggup mengabui mata masyarakat dengan "membeli" tersebut sama ada dari luar mahupun dari dalam negara.

Sesungguhnya beliau telah membuat suatu pendedahan yang amat penting dan amat wajar diambil tindakan dari sudut perundangan supaya imej negara tidak terjejas. Sekirany ini tidak ditangani dengan segara ia akan menjejas pembangunan ilmu serta institusi istana. Persoalannya: mengapakah merekan yang berkenaan tergamak berbuat demikian?

Berikut saya muat turun laporan Utusan Malaysia mengenai isu tersebut untuk perkongsian.

Gelaran Datuk ekspres

Oleh ARSHAD KHAN
pengarang@utusan.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR 22 Sept. – Jabatan Peguam Negara diminta memutuskan sama ada ‘pembelian’ gelaran seperti Datuk dari luar negara atau ijazah doktor falsafah (PhD) ‘secara ekspres’ merupakan perbuatan jenayah atau sebaliknya.

Menteri Penerangan, Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim berkata, kegiatan membeli gelaran sosial semakin serius dan jika tidak ditangani, akan melahirkan satu generasi ‘ilmuwan palsu’.

Menurutnya, agensi kerajaan yang berkenaan perlu menilai dan merumuskan juga kaedah untuk menghalang perbuatan membeli gelaran sosial yang semakin menjadi-jadi.

Beliau memberitahu, pihak-pihak yang menggunakan gelaran palsu berkenaan harus disiasat dengan segera kerana mereka boleh ditafsir melakukan satu bentuk penipuan kepada masyarakat.

Tambahnya, perbuatan membeli gelaran sosial di negara ini sudah di tahap yang agak keterlaluan dan menjadikan budaya menipu di tahap paling tinggi serta memudaratkan masyarakat.

“Ada pemimpin muda memiliki ijazah PhD belian dan tidak diiktiraf, ini sangat serius, saya cadangkan mereka disiasat, perbuatan ini disifatkan menipu,” katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia di sini, baru-baru ini.

Malah, Rais berkata, sesetengah ahli masyarakat yang berstatus pemimpin juga dikesan membeli ‘PhD ekspres’.

Katanya, selain PhD, gelaran sosial lain seperti Datuk dan Datuk Seri boleh dibeli dari luar dengan mudah.

“Cuma Tan Sri yang belum ‘dikilangkan’ lagi,” katanya.

Kata beliau, budaya membeli gelaran sosial sudah berlarutan hampir satu dekad dan pembelian dari luar adalah lanjutan daripada sikap menjual gelaran yang sama di dalam negara.

“Semasa di Jabatan Perdana Menteri dahulu saya pernah tegur beberapa negeri, apabila dikaitkan dengan kuasa-kuasa luar Malaysia, ini adalah lanjutan kepada amalan terdahulu,” katanya.

Jelasnya, ada individu yang boleh menjadi Datuk secara tiba-tiba atau umpama dalam sekelip mata.

“Dahulu gelaran istana diberikan kepada yang berjasa kepada raja dan negara, sekarang nilai-nilai itu sudah berubah menjadi nilai buruk, gelaran-gelaran penting menjadi bahan dagangan,” katanya.

Kata beliau, seorang yang membawa gelaran Dr. dalam namanya melalui Phd sepatutnya seorang yang berilmu dan membuat pencapaian tinggi.

“Kecuali undang-undang berkaitan menyamar dapat digunakan, maka perkara ini (pembelian gelaran sosial) memerlukan satu pendekatan drastik untuk ditangani,” katanya.

(UM 22 September 2009)

Ketika dalam penerbangan Kuching-Sibu Ahad lalu (13 September 2009) saya sempat membaca komentar oleh dua orang personaliti cum kolumnis tanahair di akhbar Berbahasa Inggeris tempatan. Pertama oleh seorang blogger (saya tiba-tiba terlupa namanya) dan seorang ialah Datuk Prof Zulkifli VC USM berhubung isu dakwaan segelintir pendemo Jakarta bahawa Malaysia mencuri tarian pendet Bali. Kedua-dua kolumnis menganalisis secara terperinci isu tersebut bermula dari keserumpunan Melayu senusantara sehingga kedua-dua negara sebangsa ini wujud: Indonesia dan Malaysia. Senario hari ini kita dapat melihat betapa pergantungan masyarakat kita terhadap pekerja dari Indonesia dalam beberapa hal: pembuatan, pembinaan sehingga membancuh kopi di rumah. Bayangkan 1.8 juta warga Indonesia ini terpaksa meninggalkan negara kita atas sebab reaksi kita, apakah agaknya yang akan berlaku?

Apabila manusia rabun budaya..

Sekiranya sesuatu bangsa itu tidak mengetahui budaya, asas bangsa serta rumpun bangsanya, ada dua kemungkinan berlaku:

(i) Bangsa itu buta budaya
(ii) Bangsa itu rabun budaya

Apa yang berlaku di Jakarta ekoran video daripada Discovery Channel yang menggunaka tarian pendet Bali adalah satu lagi bukti betapa (i) atau (ii)-nya masyarakat berkenaan (saya kira rata-rata adalah orang Jawa) terhadap rumpun bangsa di Nusantara ini. Tuduhan mencuri tarian pendet adalah keterlaluan sehingga mahu mengadakan perang dengan kita!

Satu hal yang jelas tentang provokasi demikian ialah mereka yang terlibat saya kira tidak pernah ke Malaysia, atau mungkin pernah tetapi barangkali dalam kalangan mereka yang pernah disabit kes jenayah (dan mempunyai rasa dendam) dan dalam kalangan yang termakan hasutan (atas kejahilan susila, adab dan budaya serumpun).

Ketika suatu waktu saya berjalan kaki sepanjang jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman di Kuala Lumpur, dari JalanRaja Alang sehingga Jalan Chow Kit adalah kini "medan Indon" (saya tahu mereka tidak gemar dengan istilah ini) kerana berbanding lima tahun yang lalu, keadaan tersebut dipenuhi hampir 90 peratus warga Indonesia yang datang secara halal atau pun haram. Pemilik warung pun hampir 90 peratus warga Indonesia. Saya dapati mereka damai dan kelihatan makmur di sini. Apakah kerajaan Indonesia terus berdiam dengan perangai segelentir rakyatnya yang berlaku kurang ajar terhadap kedaulatan Malaysia? Apakah mereka belum sedar Malaysialah jiranya yang paling perihatin bila-bila sahaja musibah dan malapetaka menimpa Indonesia?

Merek suka demonstrasi jalanan (sejak zaman dahulu lagi sudah ada 'kebebasan' demikian) dan terbawa-bawa oleh sentimen jalanan yang tidak Islami malahan jauh daripada bertemadun. Mereka pernah melaungkan (dalam salah satu demonstrasi 2008 di Jakarta) bahawa mereka "jauh lebih baik dari segi kualiti hidup berbanding Malaysia". Ini contoh kejahilan mereka yang terlibat dalam demonstrasi tersebut. Mereka luba sejak TKI diberi peluang di Malaysia, ini telah mengangkat taraf hidup malah ekonomi mereka. Saya khauatir dalam kalangan yang sering berdemo di jalanan ini adalah golongan yang sengaja mengadu-domba serta memprovokasi Malaysia. Mereka sebetulnya perlu pendidikan. Mereka tidak ada kualiti hidup yang baik. Sebagai sebuah negera Islam terbesar di dunia, apakah ini dikatakan kualiti yang baik?

Ramai orang Malaysia bertandang ke Indonesia setia tahun. Mereka faham keadaan sosial dan ekonomi di Indonesia. Yang berjumlah ratusan ribu tidak balik ke Indonesia sekarang, sama ada atas status "PATI" atau berkerja secara sah, merupakan bukti kesederhanaan sistem sosial Malaysia yang dijelmakan daripada slogan "prosper thy neighbour" yakni memakmurkan jiran tetangga (dan bukan menghasut serta menjadi petualang dalam perhubungan).

Banyak yang perlu dibuat oleh kerajaan Indonesia (di samping membersih pentadbirannya). Antaranya ialah memberi pendidikan sebaik mungkin kepada setiap rakyatnya; dengan kata lain sekolahkan dan sekolahkan semula rakyatnya yang jahil serta sama ada rabun ataupun buta budaya. Saya masih teringat akan kejatuhan Melaka: bukan pantun "papan di Jawa saya dirikan" tetapi watak di belakang kejatuhan Melaka kepada kuasa asing. Ini memberi pengajaran berkekalan kepada saya untuk terus khuatir kehadiran yang semakin bertambah orang Indonesia khususnya dari pulau Jawa di Tanah Melayu!

Wallahualam Bissawab

Skim Seragam Pengetua Guru Besar 2012 .. hikayat sistem kita yang ketinggalan..

Pada sesi refleksi di IAB saya telah menyuarakan akan perlunya IAB megorak langkah lebih proaktif khususnya apabila merancang kursus-kursus untuk pemimpin sekolah. Pada tahun ini lebih 400 orang Guru Besar seluruh negara telah dinaikkan pangkat ke kategori DG44 (mungkin kuota telah ditambah apabila blog ini saya kemaskini). Soalan yang saya kemukakan ialah: Apakah akan terjadi apabila jumlah tersebut melewati tiga tahun yang pastinya mereka juga layak dipertimbangkan ke kategori DG48? Seterusnya, saya memperingatkan juga akan bilangan yang berumur kurang dari 45 tahun dan telah berada di kategori DG44 tahun 2009; terdapat dalam kalangan Guru Besar (yang saya kenali) telah mendapat ijazah Sarjana dan ada yang telah berusaha meneruskan pengajian secara PJJ ijazah kedoktoran. Saya amat kagum usaha gigih guru besar ini kerana mereka merupakan antara pemimpin sekolah rendah yang bakal mencipta sejarah tersendiri sekiranya mereka berjaya memperoleh ijazah kedoktoran dan kekal sebagai guru besar. Saya memerhati, sistem yang kita amalkan, sepanjang yang saya amati di kementerian amat terkebelakang dan tidak mengunjurkan secara telus akan pelaksanaan skim seragam ini. Di IAB, apabila semua pihak peka akan realiti ini, semua kursus perlu tiga perkara asas sebagai program latihan staf kementerian pelajaran Malaysia:

i. Jenama baru
ii. Isi baru
iii. Tenaga pengajar baru (pastinya antara DG48-DG54)

kerana guru besar dan pengetua menjelang 2012 adalah terdiri daripada mereka yang berada dalam kategori DG48 hingga DG54. Pengetua JUSA C juga akan bertembah.

Daripada pemerhatian saya juga, khususnya melalui lawatan konsultasi Memperkasa Sekolah Kebangsaan dan forum-forum pendidikan jemputan, guru besar kita semakin inovatif dan berinitiatif tinggi untuk memperbaiki ilmu kepengurusan dan kepimpinan. Sistem kita mesti berganjak terus supaya tidak ketinggalan oleh initiatif guru-guru. Di Sarawak pada 2007 seramai 35 orang guru sekolah rendah sedang mengikuti ijazah lanjutan kedoktoran secara PJJ. Saya yakin bilangan di seluruh negara semakin bertambah. Adakah skim perkhidmatan menanggapi initiatif guru-guru ini? Saya teringat pesan Menteri Pelajaran 1985, ketiga itu saya Pengetua Memangku Kategori C1 Tingkatan Khas (elaun memangku saya hanya di bayar 17 tahun kemudian setelah tamat pengajian kedoktoran) semua guru akan diberi ganjaran khas apabila mereka sentiasa memperkemaskan diri mereka dengan ilmu yang lebih tinggi. Guru menurut beliau adalah tonggak kepada pembangunan negara dan kementerian memperakui sumbangan dan peranan mereka. Apabila beliau menjadi Perdana Menteri Malaysia yang kelima, beliau pernah menyebut bahawa dua kategori guru (siswazah dan bukan siswazah) kini adalah atas usaha dan cadangan beliau ketika menjadi Menteri Pelajaran; namun saya melihatnya singkat satu mata untuk saya memberi kredit penuh: penempatan PTD di jabatan pelajaran negeri; yang saya anggap sebagai mencabar maruah guru atas perkiraan guru tidak pandai mengurus kewangan. Fitnah tersebut dilemparkan oleh kakitangan bukan guru (bukan DG) di jabatan-jabatan yang rabun akan pembangunan pendidikan dan pembangun negara serta mereka yang gagal melihat gambar besar dari persepektif manusia berakal dan berakhlak. Bukankah guru yang menghasilkan para kerani, pegawai akaun dan pekerja sekolah dan jabatan pelajaran setiap negeri? Mengapa guru-guru yang berkelulusan perakuanan tidak ditempatkan di pejabat? Ini yang saya istililahkan sistem yang ketinggalan oleh initiatif guru. Kini ada golongan (bukan DG) yang banyak mencadangkan beberapa perkara yang baik untuk guru sedangkan idea, pandangan daripada guru sendiri tidak diambil perhatian serius.

Pada suatu perbincangan yang turut dihadiri pegawai PTD, saya memberi reaksi dengan mengatakan betapa sistem kuota guru yang diamalkan negara kita adalah lapok, dan ketinggalan zaman! Semua yang hadir terbeliak dan merasa terancan dengan penyataan saya. Lalu saya mencadangkan: Kita mesti mengubah sistem kuota ini (sekurang-kurangnya khusus untuk jawatan guru) iaitu sekolah mesti mendapat jawatan guru berdasarkan sistem pengajaran berasaskan kemahiran (yang hendak diajar: saya pernah menulis tentang ini dalam isu berlainan). Contohnya: Bahasa Melayu untuk tahap satu (Tahun 1-3) perlu sekurang-kurang nya emapt kemahiran yang perlu diajar, iaitu: Menulis (termasuk tulisan dan penulisan), Membaca, Kefahaman dan Lisan. Maka ini menuntut empat orang guru, iaitu Guru BM Menulis, Guru BM Bacaan, Guru BM Kefahaman dan Guru BM Lisan.

Salah seorang yang mendengar cadangan saya itu menyampuk (menyampuk sekadar hendak menyampuk) : itu terlalu luxury ! Lalu saya berkata: So what? What wrong being luxurious in a system that everybody has a share in it? Why can't we have luxury in teachers' quota when we have luxurious school building (costing between 25-60million!). Yang lain, dan tak mengerti penyataan saya terdiam ada di kalangan guru besar dan pengetua mengangguk tetapi tidak bersuara menyokong. Seorang pemimpin kesatuan guru, saya pasti beliau adalah guru besar berdiri dan berkata: Syabas, dr. kita akan bawa cadangan ini ke majlis pemuafakatan nanti (yang saya tidak dengar lagi perkembangannya).

Pada bulan penuh barakah ini marilah kita sama-sama bermunajat dan memohon daripada Allah SWT semoga para pemimpin tertinggi pendidikan mengambil ikhtibar akan pandangan guru-guru serta menjelmakannya dalam realiti yang dinantikan oleh semua guru. Tahun 2009 adalah tahun keramat bagi semua guru Malaysia kerana, akhirnya pemerintah memperaku kita sebagai Pembina Negara Bangsa. Wallahualam Bissawab.

Batu Danau and Pengkalan Jawa

I have always been wondering on some of the names given to our schools in Sarawak, notably Batu Danau and Pengkalan Jawa, to mention a few. These two schools have been under my supervision under the Memperkasakan Sekolah Kebangsaan program since 2006. This morning, I went to SK Pengkalan Jawa ( the Javanese might have some contributions in one way or another!) accompanied by Dayang Rohana of PPD Limbang. We spent more than two hours with Franky Isak and his teachers discussing the school strategic planning and progress. There is tremendous improvement in the school. It has a computer lab (yet to be turned into a language lab) although it has not received the computers; new hostel block and a dining hall. The beautification program Franky has been implementing and improving also makes the school a conducive learning environment altogther.

Batu Danau, about ten kilometers (?) away has an equally conducive environment. Slightly larger in terms of both students population and the physical size, SK Batu Danau produces a steady academic performance for the past five years. Sampai Saka, among a few Headmaster with a Master degree qualification is a cool and enthusiastic young man with a full commitment in his duties.

Rohana and I spent slightly longer time at Batu Danau because Sampai has prepared us lunch which we enjoyed together with the entire boarders of the school. The dining hall was a clean and tidy one. As it was Wednesday, Sampai and his team wore the school "corporate attire" while the students wore their co curricula uniforms respectively.


Lunch time: Students of SKBatu Danau Withe some members of the teaching staf. Sampai is on my left.

"Came- Rain"

My department was organizing a reflection at Rossa Passadena Cameron Highland end of July. We had an interesting session while planning for our training program for 2010. The weather was rather chilly with some predawn light showers. Fruits were surplus! So were the Cameron Highlans strawberries. My wife could not resist sampling some of the displayed dried ones before decided on the take-aways. The tea was fantastic with value added aroma.

On our way to Rossa Passadena, Ibrahim, our driver recommended us to taste Cameron tea. We spent 40 minute break and enjoyed our earl grey and some bites of strawberry-cheese cake.
The low temperature reminded us the hottest summer we had in UK.

How do we conceptualise Nation State? revisiting teachers' day theme for 2009

"Guru Pembina Negara Bangsa" was made the theme for this year's teachers day celebration. I was requested to deliver a two-hour talk. There were two questions facing this theme:

1. Why teachers are given this responsibility: building nation state?

2. Do teachers equip themselves with the necessary social infrastructure?

The first 40 minutes of the schedule was a blackout which teachers, almost 500 in number patiently waited.

Addressing the theme, I used several examples supposedly self-explanatory: teaching as a universal profession- engaging beyond classroom and beyond racial demarcation. Teachers in Malaysia have already been addressing the profoundly promulgated 1 Malaysia buzz from PM. However, one may have forgotten all this while that has been teachers effort.

Being universal means to educate without any barrier: social or physical. Understanding UNESCO "Education for all, all for education". This, school heads all over Sarawak had to chance to understand when Sarawak Education Department organised the largest participation ever, (1300++ school heads) .

Long, long busy June

Quite hectic and busy month, June it is! I went for long leave since May 25 till June 14 and another four day-leave June 22-June 24. My daughter Lenny Suriyani's wedding went on beautifully well June the 5th. I personally solemnised the 'Aqad' with ustaz Sarbini Ekom as Qadi Rep from Majlis Islam Sarawak. The reception was held the following day at Islamic Information Center and in Bintulu Dewan Suarah June the 13th.

Many thanks to all who attended all occasions, may Allah swt provides us all with strength and excellent health.

A slight drawback for the long week when Sarbanun experienced another abdominal problem. She missed the night reception, traditional chinese tea-reception at Haizal's parents house, Kidurong. We came back to Kuching 14 June. She went to see Dr. Ng 15 June and was advised to undergo a surgery the following Monday, 22 June.

After the surgery she was on sick leave until 22 July.

Those are the slight 'turbulence' my family encountered in June after the months long preparation for Lenny's wedding. Our brothers and sisters from Saratok and Limbang joined hands to assist us with all the preparation.

I upload a few images recorded during the occasion.

From Good Shepherd to Penglayan

Another schools visit it is this week. I took the 0700 flight to Marudi yesterday. The flight was delayed for almost 40 minutes. Reached Marudi at 0736, after less than 20 minutes of flying. PPD Baram transported me directly to Good Shepherd elementary school after having breakfast with Suhaimi the driver. The school is just next to the runaway of Marudi airstrip. The is has been my fourth annual visit under the Memperkasa SK Program and Good Shepherd and Penglayan were the last two in my list for 2009 first round of visits for the program.

This is an interesting school indeed. Its locality reminded me of Sarawak Teachers' Training College 1976 where we were holding breath each time an aircraft took off and landed. The difference is the size of the aircraft. Marudi is only served with Twin-Otter 19-passenger aircraft while Sibu then was with fokker and some cessna.

Patrick Tait has his second round as school head at Good Shepherd. During the briefing I did ask this question: Anybody know why this school is called 'Good Shepherd'. I shared some of my Bible Knowledge with some of the teachers.

During the brief, yet meaningful visit, I had the chance to observe some of the learning sessions. Bennet (right) is an interesting boy, suspected ADHD (Attention Deficit Hypher-Active Disorder) year two-student. I managed to talk with him when Patrick brought me to the classroom. Now many would be aware that ADHD has been a worrisome among our students. Some teachers have been exposed to detecting the disorder, while the majority would not understand its existence.

At 0800 today, 14 May will proceed to SK Penglayan using PPD Baram Boat. Form Penglayan will take an express boat to Miri.Teachers at Good Shepherd busy responding to the survey
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SK Penglayan, 14 May 2009, Thursday, 0910 am.
14 May at 0800 we left Marudi to Penglayan, an hour journey by boat. Thanks to PPD Baram for providing the efficient transportation. The Deputy Minister of Education used the same boat two weeks ago when he was on Baram schools visits.
At Penglayan, Adree Lenjau and his teachers received us as usual right at the jetty. They were observing Thursday like any town school: on batik!
The dry season has provided us a clearer vision of SK Penglayan, reminding me of yet another critical problem faced by boarding school: H2O, that is! During lunch time, I jokingly told some of the teachers that I will "provide" some rain and asked one of them either she prefers 'L', 'M' or 'S' which she instantly said "L"! A few minutes after we started our lunch, we heard some rain drops hitting the zinc roof! That continued on when we left for our boat around mid day. The rain was a relief indeed as most teachers have dried up their reserve. Similar to what I sawat SMK Ulu Balingian on 23 April, all the toilet bowls were without clear water and all tanks meant for the toilets were also dried up.

At 6.15pm I managed to contact Razali Ibrahim the PK1 to verify about the rain. I was in great sigh that it did actually rain when I left Penglayan. The teachers were excited arrest as much of the rain as possible with their empty tanks.
Above: Some of the teachers including Puan
Norlida with her small boy followed us to
Kuala Baram for a brief boat tour.

Action Research for underenrolled elementary school heads in Sabah

Great experience! That was one of the comments from the 26 participants of the five-day action research course specially conducted for school heads of under enrolled elementary schools in Sabah. This is IAB's first such course. The course is of three phases where participants will be guided through to conduct action research based on their schools environment and situation.

School heads will be able to use action research to decide on professional matters pertaining to their school management. These will include teachers' career development, students' learning and academic performance, school physical development and school-community partnership.

The course was designed to provide school heads with insight awareness that professional decision making must be data driven. This will be made possible through professional data collection. Most teachers have in-depth knowledge about action research. Since 1988, the Ministry of Education has introduced action research curriculum in all teachers' training college throughout the country.

Now, more and more teachers are able to share their research findings through seminar presentation. Some districts throughout the country are quite active in organising such forum and make it their annual activity. In some districts, such forum is what they are waiting for so that they too could contribute to decision making especially on academic and curriculum matters.

From May 4 to May 8, the 26 Sabah school, heads have participated actively in all the activities we conducted. Dr. Abang Hut and myself were really amazed by their enthusiasm and participation. The works we provided were meant to guide them in two key areas prior to conducting the research, viz-a-viz reflection and item construction. At the end of the course they were guided to write a research proposal. Congratulation to all the 26 school heads in Sabah. I am confident that you will be able to conduct exemplary action research.

Kanowit revisited

The last time I came to Kanowit was in 2003 when I was invited as guest speaker in a parenting program jointly organised by Sarawak Foundation and Kanowit District Office. I spoke to about 300 parents from various villages in the district.

SK St Francis Xavier is listed for Program Memperkasa Sekolah Kebangsaan this year along with 82 other elementary schools in Sarawak. My first communication with Andrew Mail, the principal, about two months ago, was proven fruitful as my visit to the school today, 27 April 2009, is well received. Thanks to Tinggom, the assistant PPD who was kind enough to give me a lift from Sibu and return.

St. Francis Xavier is one of the oldest schools in Sarawak. Opened in 1883, it served as the main schooling system for the district and feeding two secondary schools in Kanowit town. Today it has a new building with almost 500 students with 35 teachers. I recognised a few faces around and one of them was the PK1, Tasiah Wen who was my college mate way back 1977 at STTC Sibu; Rosalind reminded our meeting at Berjaya Palace Kota Kinabalu 2007 during the National Seminar on Action Research.

I proudly share here that the principal, Andrew has just completed his Masters from OUM; one of the few Sarawak elementary school heads to have such qualification so far. Congratulation, Andrew and thanks for an excellent ride in the brand new Toyota-Innova.

After a briefing with the senior teachers, I was invited for lunch at a restaurant beneath Harbour View Inn. I was greeted by the co-owner of the Restaurant, Zainab Tambi who happened to remember and recognise me after I conducted a staff development program for SeDidik last year in Sibu. She served as Kanowit SeDidik Coordinator and opted for retirement recently. The lunch was her treat, terima kasih Zainab.

Having Lunch with Andrew and Tinggom

The long week..

This week has been a long one for me. Having lectured in the KKPP Group at RH Sibu, the eight hour stint was real engaging. The 39 participants Adeline managed to group were energetic, super active and contributing. This is the first KKPP group that ever printed their T-Shirt with IAB logo and their group's identity. Beautiful they were, red on black! Last night the group organised a special dinner which I and Adeline attended. It was a very well organised decent dinner from a KKPP group so far throughout the country!

The committee formed organised several interactive social activities during the dinner. Everyone made a fair contribution from some number for the Karaoke to balloon blowing.

Need to stress a point here!

After checking in at Tang Dynasty Kota Kinabalu 21 April 2009, I was left with barely 25 minutes to enter the lecture hall where 35 participants of Organisational Behaviour Course were waiting. Thanks to Dr. Abang Hut who managed the course, and like Adeline, managed to gather substantive number of course participants from all division in Sabah. I lectured for six hours, relieved of the night two-hour slot as all participant preferred only day lecture. It was hot and dry in KK for the past week I was told, and having endured the heat, the night was as forgiving as a mild winter in Perth.

I took the last flight from KK to Sibu 22 April. The Fokker aircraft was providing the the ten passengers a very luxurious journey! However, being too comfortable with the ample space, I left a bag with a pair of golf shoes! I only realised about the baggage which I placed in the cabin when returning from late night super with my nephew. Thanks to the excellent service of the lost-and-found department of the airline. I received the call from Sibu office that my left luggage was ready for collection at 11.00 am the following day; thanks to Sdr Ismail (Mas Sibu Airport) and Ms Hamimah (MAS Kuching Airport). That served as a great relief as I was due for Eastwood Valley Miri for Saturday Golfing with some colleagues from Brunei.

Status quo and new meanings.

The weeks 27 March to 7 April have been hectic ones to some. Driving weekly from Kuching to Saratok since mid February (something that I realised worth trying) has beed an interesting experience. I did not normally drive home that frequent for the last 20 years. But with some engagement, association with the alma matta, invitation for talks and wedding receptions all have coincidentally provided the new prospect to this 660km journey.
Each time I stopped over at Sri Aman Journey Break, I met quite a number of party people patronising the the food outlets. The place is now quite improved (minus the toilet, which need urgent repair). I realised that Lubok Antu has been the central focus over the weeks since the demise of the assemblyman for Batang Ai'.
Simanggang or second division as it was fondly referred to by veterans, could have witness more visitors even without by election nearby. The journey break facility made available at the junction serves as only a brief relaxation after a two-hour drive from the capital city. To proceed Sri Aman town one needs to spare 18 km for a return journey, which is to mean 'wasting' 20 minutes or so of the next journey.

Focused action research

A total of 31 headteachers from 31 underenrolled primary schools throughout Sarawak attended Action Research Course (phase 1) held at BTPN Sarawak in Samarahan. Dr. Abang Hut assisted with the facilitation. For the first phase, the course was to provide basic skills in reflection, approaches and data collection required to start off with small scale research when the go back to their respective schools. The second phase of the course will be held in August where all the 31 participants will present their findings. They will then be guided through analysing, interpreting and documenting the reports. The reports will then be selected for seminar paper presentation.

All the 31 participants have shown keen interest in the research, specifically in management, administration and leadership; centrally focused on their present schools.

Previous action research course were normally conducted to address curriculum issues and attended by senior curriculum practitioners in schools and education offices.

This is the first time Headteachers participated in action research course and IAB is focusing on under enrolled primary schools in Sarawak and Sabah. The two states have more then 50 percent under enrolled primary schools (below 150 pupils).

Isu PPSMI... mengapa ke peringkat 'perarakan' dan 'bermemorandum'?..

PPSM menjadi semakin ranum dan gari sejak pelaksanaannya sejak lebih enam tahun yang lalu. Kini ia sampai ke peringkat popular.. 'perarakan' dan 'bermemorandum' ... dengan tujuan untuk mendapat perhatian serius pihak pemerintah. Dalam kancah dan gelojak maklumat boleh tersebar dan disebar dengan pendekatan yang begitu mudah dan cepat, nampaknya begitu sukar dan lambat untuk mendapat perhatian dan didengar pihak pemerintah. Datuk Dr. Hassan Ahmad dan Datuk A. Samad Said adalah dua tokoh utama dalam Gerakan Menghapuskan PPSMI (GMP). Mereka pastinya disokong oleh pejuang Bahasa Melayu tanahair yang saya yakin tidak sedikit. Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Bedawi dalam kenyataannya telah menyeru supaya dibuat keputusan segera berhubung isu ini dengan harapan ia tidak semakain 'membarah'. Ini dilihat antara pegangan terakhir Pak Lah menjelang penyerahan kuasa PM kepada Timbalannya dan Perhimpunan Agung UMNO bulan ini.

Apa dan siapakah yang akan membuat keputusan? Bagaimana dan bilakah petutusan berhubung isu ini akan dibuat? Empat soalan tersebut pastinya perlukan jawapan pada kadar agak segera. Umpama menangani masalah gunting bedah yang terjahit dalam perut pesakit.. PPSMI perlu 'pembedahan' semula, segera, dijahit semula dan yang pasti parutnya tetap dua.

District Information Officers Workshop 2009

Last Friday, 20 February 2009, I was invited to talk to about 40 District Information Officers from all districts throughout Sarawak. Schedules in the program, I was to give a kind of motivational talk to them. However lately, this sort of talk, especially to government civil service is a little bit a sensitive topic. Because, some may ponder; "Am I not motivated enough all these while?" Nevertheless, I found that they were all motivated, experienced and visionary. This was indicated by some responses they made during the interaction.

Centrally themed 'job satisfaction and building a career path to success', I began by asking what made them satisfied with their present job, a point I had always made when addressing the civil service. The notion that, satisfaction has always been contributed by such factors as pay, promotion, supervision, colleagues and workplace need reviewing. They may give some form of satisfaction but they may not be continuously motivating and satisfying to most people. In Malaysian civil service context, such factors continuous professional development and the nature of the 'work' one is attached to, contribute to long-term satisfaction.

I concluded professional satisfaction contributes to continuous motivation among most civil service officers. The implication is that employers need to constantly provide opportunities to employees to develop themselves.

Dialog Pendidikan Borneo II

Sarawak is planning to host the second Borneo Education Dialogue II 27 - 30 July 2009. A steering committee was formed and had its meeting in Santubong Resort 20-21 February 2009. The theme will revolve around best practices in education and five sub themes incorporating curriculum, management and leadership, teacher training have also been identified.

Chairing the steering committee is Pengiran Merali bin Pengiran Mohemed who is also the education Department Academic Sector head.

Menunggu pertemuan Obama dan Osama

Dibezakan oleh dua huruf 'b' dan 's', dua jejaka amat popular di abad ini amat dinanti pertemuan mereka, lebih-lebih lagi setelah Presiden Barack Hussein Obama memulakan tugas kepresidenannya untuk empat tahun. Apakan wujud peluang pertemuan sedemikian? Baik apa juga situasi yang menyelubungi pertemuan itu nanti, yang pasti ia dinantikan oleh seluruh dunia khususnya yang ingin melihat perubahan dalam order baru dunia selepas Obama berada ditahta pemerintahan Amerika Syarikat.

Menunggu pertemuan Obama dan Osama

Dibezakan oleh dua huruf 'b' dan 's', dua jejaka amat popular di abad ini amat dinanti pertemuan mereka, lebih-lebih lagi setelah Presiden Barack Hussein Obama memulakan tugas kepresidenannya untuk empat tahun

Experiential learning: understanding adult learners..

Last Saturday, 10 January 2009, I had the opportunity talking to about 70 teachers and instructors of International College of Advanced Technology Sarawak (ICATS) as part of their professional development program. Our six-hour interaction brought us to an understanding about teaching, learning and trying our best to understand what those meant in terms of adult learners.

I began by discussing 'What is teaching?' a preamble session to my second and third modular training sessions, viz-a-viz, "Reflection on our teaching" and "Pedagogy Vs Andragogy". Teachers at private colleges and institutions in Malaysia are of diversified background in terms of academic and professional qualification backgrounds. So the professional development so organised by ICATS was not only relevant but ought to be taken heed of by other institutions because teachers, wherever they serve, need constant professional staff development activities so that they keep abreast with the latest development in the profession of teaching.

In our Malaysian context, teaching is an open profession. However the competency being a professional teachers ought to come along with skill and professional training. Being a trained teacher in government schools in Malaysia, one is recognised as qualified or licenced to teach. Those who are not, are recognised as untrained, temporary teacher; an administrative definition of it.

Learning through experience requires a substantive amount of experience or at least initial exposure to the kind of acquired experience. Several notions to it links to how adult people learn. In teaching terminology 'andragogy' is used and it assumes that adult learn in the following context:

☻ Adults need to know why they need to learn something;

☻ Adults need to learn experientially;

☻ Adults approach learning as problem-solving;

☻ Adults learn best when the topic is of immediate value.

The issue teachers need to ponder upon is: when pedagogy or andragogy is used when teaching post secondary students (participants)? How definitive is our approach to teaching a varied background of participants especially when they are of different age groups.

Effective delivery of teaching requires a teacher and instructor alike to ensure that learning does occur. How they learn is to be determined by themselves. Facilitation by both teachers or instructors must observe their styles of learning. Methodologies of teaching ought to be diversified taking into consideration several factors: learners, subject matter, time and space made available.

Palestin and Israel... Long lesson on humanity yet to be learnt

Has mankind ever forgotten the history of mankind? The history of mankind is a history of humanity , beginning with the existence of Adam and later Eve (Hawa). Those who forgot this are those who have studied or read about it. But worst is the category of people who does not even know about it.

People talk, discuss and write about a confused state of mind from Darwin's Theory of Evolution but not so many would discuss at length the origin of mankind in a perspective accepted by values close to all mankind. Let us ponder on the existence (the beginning) of Adam and later Eve (Hawa). How the couple later being blessed by the Al mighty God, Allah SWT generated mankind.

Reading the history and actual story from whatever versions of recount, will conclusively suggest that we as the present inhabitants of this beautiful planet called Earth are in actual fact came from the same source that is Adam and Eve (Hawa). We are governed by one source of power, the Almighty God, Allah SWT.

What have transformed the differences are for us all to study and study and study until there is wisdom that God will give us all. Only then will we as mankind understand how to live together, understand each other well and accept whatever differences as God given as God would like all mankind to live peacefully in this world.

May peace be created in the middle east.

The 4th.Inter Universities Conference Kalimatan 2008

Alhamdulillah, saya berkesempatan ikut serta dalam Konferensi Universiti Se Borneo-Kaimantan Kali Ke 4 yang telah berlangsung 24-25 Jun yang lalu di Kota Samarinda, Kalimantan Timur. Kali ini rombongan dari Sarawak agak ramai juga yang terdiri daripada pensyarah UNIMAS dan UiTM. Ada juga dari UiTM Sabah, UTM Johor dan UM Kuala Lumpur.

Saya sempat membentang sebuah kertas kerja bertajuk "Memahami isu keciciran pelajar sekolah di Sarawak" hasil penelitian yang telah saya jalankan 2001-2002 dan 2003-2005. Kertas konsep dalam isu keciciran pelajar di Sarawak pernah saya, Dr. Haji Julaihi Hj Bujang (sekarang Pengarah Pendidikan Sarawak) dan Dr. Sluhi Lamat hasilkan pada 2001 sewaktu Bengkel Keciciran Pelajar anjuran SDI dan telah dibentangkan oleh Dr Hj Julaihi Hji Bujang.














Pengalaman membentang Kertas Kerja pada seminar antara bangsa amat menyeronokkan lebih-lebih lagi apabila banyak perkongsian idea berlaku di kalangan pembentang atau pemakalah (istilah di Indonesia yang mula diterima pakai di Malasyia.

Konferensi kali ini adalah lebih meriah daripada siri yang ketiga kerana terdapat 142 kertas kerja telah diterima untuk pembentangan. Gedung Bundar, Fakulti Kehutanan Universiti Mulwarman Samarinda menjadi tumpuan warga pendidik dan cendikiawan majoritinya dari pusat pengajian tinggi seluruh Borneo membincangkan tema "Transformasi Sosial Masyarakat Pedesaan dan Pesisir Borneo Kalimantan; isu-isunya" .

Jaringan kerja di kalangan pusat pengajian di Borneo semakin menggalakkan bermula dengan siri Dialog Borneo kerjasma Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, dan Seminar Borneo Research Council. Sesungguhnya jaringan tersebut wajar diteruskan dan dipertingkatkan kerana ruang kerjasama demikian begitu terserlah di kalangan masyarakat berbudaya serupa ini malah daripada komen dan pandangan-pandangan di kalangan cendikiawak yang ikut serta dalam konferensi dan dialog Borneo yang pernah saya hadiri, betapa mereka melihat para cendikiawan di Borneo ini wajar bergerak memperhebatkan lagi kegiatan seBorneo pada masa akan datang.

Bagi Sarawak, kebanggaan kita ialah kerana ketiga-tiga aktiviti tersebut adalah cetusan dari Kuching; maka sudah tibanya inisiatif serupa ditapilkan oleh Pontianak, Palangkaraya, Banjarmasin, Samarinda, Kota Kinabalu dan Bandar Seri Begawan- tujuh kota besar dan tidak kurang ilmuannya di pulau ketiga besarnya di dunia itu.

Daripada para sahabat di Jabatan Pendidikan Sarawak, saya difahamkan bahawa ada usaha untuk mengadakan Dialog Pendidikan Borneo kali kedua nanti dengan penglibatan cendikiawan dari Kalimantan, khususnya Kalimantan Barat.

Syabas dan tahniah saya ucapkan sekiranya ia benar dan akan menjadi realiti. Pertemuan seumpama itu nanti akan memperkayakan lagi ruang pemikiran seBorneo para cendikiawan dan sudahpasti ketersebarannya akan jauh lebih meluas.
Salam.

Rakaman kenang-kenangan bersama Prof. Dr. Ir. Syafie serta mahasiswa Universitas Mulawarman.

NOTA:
Gambar 1, Prof. Abdul Halim Ali sedang membentangkan kertas kerja bertajuk:

"Transformasi Sosial Masyarakat Pedesaan dan Pesisir Borneo Kalimantan; isu-isunya" .

Gambar 2. Blogger sedang membentangkan kertas kerja "Memahami isu pelajar sekolah di Sarawak".
Gambar 3. Dari Kiri, Dr. Nelson (UNIMAS), Tan Sri Prof. Dr. Mohd. Taha Arif dan blogger sedang mengikuti pembentangan Prof. Abdul Halim Ali.

of collaboration and cooporation in classroom learning environment...

When learning is traditionally measured by marks and the 'A's, contemporary education psychologist often remarks that classroom teaching is nothing but merely information transfer. "Initiative to learning is said to be driven by systematic teaching (not sure what that means!)", said student-teacher instructor. "In order to make sure that your students learn, the teaching aids you used, the technological gadgets enplaced ought to be interactice", she added on.

I pondered, "have you ever tried team-teaching for your class?" The teachers who filled my staff development session, looked at each other, could be wandering ("what on earth is this fellow talking about?"). "In a class of 25-30 students, English lesson for year one pupils is taught by five teachers. The lesson went for 2 hours with flexible breaks in between skills they planned," I continued to make more sense of my earlier question.

I continued with my elaboration:
A teacher who taught writing (English), began by grouping her pupils. The second and third teacher helped her by distributing printed materials, colourful and big enough that I could see letters printed on them. While the fourth teacher arranged some of the materials on a display table at one corner of the classroom.

The five teachers interacted so lively with the 28 year one students. After writing skills lasted for almost half-an-hour, the grammar English teacher led the class for another hour. She switched on the TV set stationed at one corner of the classroom (I reckoned it was about 40x60 feet in size!). It was screening video-taped animated story "the hare and the tortoise". She later paused the video tape and moved the students attention by looking at the chart prepared at the other corner of the classroom. She asked some questions related to what was shown in the video. The students responded actively non-choral as she politely said out each name who raised their hands. The story telling lesson(for grammar and comprehension) went impressively well that I did not realised I had been observing them for almost 120 minutes!

The class was very lively. I observed only one student seeked permission to go to the toilet, adjacent to the classroom. Students followership and leadership were remarkable. The five teachers (all ladies) facilitated the class so well that the whole episode that was supposed to be traditionally teaching (in Malaysian context) seemed to be scripted and dramatised! During break was amazing. Each student took a marker and dropped some words they have learnt on the blank chart placed in front of the classroom. Some wrote good comments (remember they were year one kid!). It was 1145 am. Lunch time was 15 minutes earlier for the class because they found that the planned activities for the morning were completed and the students learned the lesson very well commented the senior class teacher. I joined them for noon recess with five of them kept on discussing and relating on some students during the lesson.

The basic foundation for effective teaching-learning environment as I observed was: (1) The use of collaborative and cooporative learning strategies employed by all teachers. (The 120-minute lesson was filled with group works with student kept on moving tirelessly at each instruction given by the teachers. The eye-movement and body language displayed were testament of effective instruction at each level.) (2) Teachers' competency and disposition were remarkable in the sense that they mastered both knowledge and skills, implemented well all the classrom managing strategies, and most importantly they controlled too well of the psycho-social climate in the classroom. (3) I observed learning was facilitated and order was established.

(Moved from medang.blogspot.com)

APRCIE 1-5 August 2008

The second Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Islamic Education (APRCIE) jointly organised by Jaringan Seklah Islam Terpadu Indonesia (JSIT) and International Centre of Excellent Education (ICEE) was held at Novotel, Solo, Central Java. About 300 participants from Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and host country Indonesia registered for the two-day conference. It was officiated by DPR Speaker Dr. Hj. Hidayat Nur Wahid. This year's theme was "Sharing best practices on Educational Management". I was co-presenter to Dr. Samsiah's paper entitled Information Seeking Behaviour Among School heads in Malaysia, a study she conducted for her doctoral program. Participants came mostly from Islamic Education background and some were quite multi-lingual. The conference was successfully organised and provided excellent opportunities for Islamic Scholars in the Asia-Pacific region to engage in positive discourse on Islamic Education while sharing some of the school management best practices.

Indonesia has an amazing number of private elementary Islamic school nation wide under the JSIT (Jaringan Sekolah Islam Terpadu) umbrella. Contributions from parents, government and the public at large are commendable. After the conference, foreign delegates had the opportunity to visit a JSIT school at Jalan Adi Sucipto, Solo. It is Nur Hidayah Elementary School.

Thank you.

(Moved from medang.blogspot.com)