KOTA KINABALU: SM Lok Yuk hopes to attract higher student enrolment in the future with a better science laboratory facility.
According to the school’s board of management chairman Clement Chieng Shaw An, upgrading works on two 30-year-old laboratories were feasible with the RM450,000 federal funding, received over two years ago by the school, through the 10th Malaysia Plan.
“Our objective is to encourage parents to continue helping our youth by sending their children to study here. We have the best teachers and facilities, which is further proven with the production of the number one SPM student last year,” said Chieng after the school’s Kegemilangan (Excellence) Award ceremony held to celebrate the school’s outstanding students here yesterday.
“Overall, we may not be the number one top school but Lok Yuk students are the top or among the top five students in Sabah (for the SPM examinations),” he added.
Despite accommodating students above maximum capacity and facing a shortage of teachers, SM Lok Yuk still manages to roll out top students in the national examinations each year, said the school’s principal Jennifer Asing.
Last year, Sabah’s best student for SPM 2014 was Tan Wei Shan who scored 10 A+ and 1A, she added.
“We want to produce more future leaders and we are trying to attract students from primary school to come to our school so that we can boost SM Lok Yuk to a higher level.
“We have excess school students and a shortage of teachers but the state education director is trying his best to help this school with it,” explained Jennifer.
Upgrading of the RM352,506.70 chemistry and biology lab started in September 6, 2014 and was completed in April 11 this year.
“The school will use the remainder of the fund for upgrading and maintenance of the school buildings,” said the principal.
She added that around 40 students will be able to occupy the laboratory equipped with upgraded apparatus during normal classes and 30 science-streamed students every class session.
“Our science lab complies with the first class standard set by Public Works Department (JKR) and done by JKR sourced constructors into quite a full-fledged science lab.
“Over the years, JKR has already upgraded their requirements for proper science lab, in terms of furniture, water and safety measure. We upgraded our 30-year-old science labs, with the help of the federal funding, into the modern concept and furniture as required by JKR,” elaborated Chieng.
“I have learned from JKR that science labs of this kind here would be the second in Sabah. I believe that the first one done by JKR is one of the national schools in Sabah,” he added.
According to Basel Christian Church of Malaysia Bishop Datuk Dr Thomas Tsen Lip Tet, SM Lok Yuk is among more than 400 mission schools in the country and upgrading of the science lab would make the school the first mission school with an upgraded science lab.
“I believe through better facilities our students will be more convinced to gain knowledge and continue on with the basic high school education for the sake of higher education in the future,” said the bishop after gracing the school’s award ceremony.
“Learning environment is very important. The basel churches have altogether 15 mission schools in Sabah. SM Lok Yuk, one of the well-known schools in the town’s society, have been blessed students through these schools and I hope this facility will enhance our students,” he said after the religious dedication ceremony to give thanks for the new lab facility.
Besides SM Lok Yuk, mission school SM Sung Siew has also churned out best students in the state, he said.