Dennis (sixth right) with the facilitators.
MIRI: Primary schools with low enrolment of pupils in Ulu Baram should be given equal attention by the government, particularly in the aspect of moral support.
Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau strongly believes that these rural schools are able to record excellent performance in both academic and non-academic fields if given the support.
Speaking at a Motivational Camp at SK Long Kesseh in Telang Usan recently, Dennis said SK Long Kesseh which has about 20 pupils had recorded two proud achievements – national champion as Sekolah Harapan in the rural school category (1998) and received Malaysia Education Ministry Quality Award for rural school category in 2001.
“I really hope that the school headmaster Poul Nanggang will be able to ink another success dimension for SK Long Kesseh.
“Although it is not an easy task, with strong determination and total commitment, I believe that the school management will be able to repeat such success and achievements.”
In addition to that, he said the government had conducted various efforts to improve the environment of the rural schools, including their facilities as well as to ensure there is increasing number of pupil enrolment.
“Primary school is not only a place for the students to acquire basic education. It also serves as the best venue for the surrounding people to conduct community development activities.”
On the motivational camp, he praised the parent-teacher association (PTA) of SK Long Kesseh and the village security and development committee (JKKK) of Kampung Long Kesseh for giving their support to Curtin Malaysia to make the three-day camp a huge success.
He said the university had organised a community outreach programme in Telang Usan constituency before but the aim of the programme was to expose the university students to community life in rural areas.
Thus, he hoped there will be more motivational camps organised for rural pupils as the pupils are in dire need of such moral support.Later, he announced Minor Rural Project (MRP) grant of RM10,000 for the PTA of SK Long Kesseh to run education activities in the school.
Also present were leader of Curtin Malaysia’s entourage Maltilda Mae Brain, Kampung Long Kesseh village chief Luat Jok and Kampung Long Nakan village chief Andrew Jau.