WELL DONE: Abdillah (third left) presenting an award to Max Ting from SMK Methodist
KUCHING: Sarawak students have over the years shown excellent achievements in both academics and co-curriculum not only at the national level but also internationally.
Expressing confidence that Sarawakians would continue to shine in both fields, state education director Datu Abdillah Adam said it was in line with the Malaysia Education Development Plan to produce quality and excellent students.
He said this was manifested by the excellent result the state recorded in this year’s Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR), which, according to him, was the best in 11 years, in which it achieved an average grade (GPN) of 2.52.
“Every year, the state achieved better and better results in the exam and after 11 years, we managed to achieve the best.
“We hope for the best in the Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) examination result which will be out next week,” he said when launching the ‘6th Sarawak Education Department Human Development Management Award Ceremony 2013’ held at the department’s premises in Petra Jaya yesterday.
He also revealed the state’s other achievements at the national level this year – overall champion in the ‘Track and Fields in the 55th MSSM Championship in Kuantan, Pahang, champion in under-21 MSSM netball, overall runner-up for MSSM aquatic championship in Kuala Lumpur, overall champion in school youth cadet camp, overall champion in Koreasonal Cadet Camp, overall champion in Fire Cadet Camp, overall champion in robotic competition, champion in the Toyota Eco Youth competition, champion in Primary Schools Public Speaking Competition, champion in Chinese poem competition and overall championship in Borneo Hornbill Competition for arts and culture.
At the international level, he said the state achieved four gold, two silver and four bronze medals in the first Asia Track and Field Championship 2013 in Kuantan, Pahang and was champion in the 21st MSSM-WALLA-SSSC U14 and U15 International Little Athletics Championship 2013.
In addition, he said the state contributed one gold medal in discus, one silver medal in swimming and five bronze medals in the 5th Asean School Games 2013 in Hanoi Vietnam.
He said, besides that, students of SMK Batu Lintang won Third Grand Award in ‘Intel International Science and Engineering Fair USA’ while Sekolah Seni Kuching achieved Gold Diploma in International Folk Dance and Song in Batumi, Georgia in USA and students of SMK Bintulu won one gold, one bronze and one excellence award in ‘Wold Robot Olympiad’ in Jakarta Indonesia.
“These are the achievements by our students and schools. It is important to excel in both academics and sports as well co-curriculum in line with our Malaysia Education Development Plan,” he said.
Yesterday’s award presentation ceremony was to recognise the achievements and contributions of students who excelled in co-curriculum. It was also to give recognition and appreciation to various departments, agencies and organisations for their cooperation with the state Education Department.
The Human Development Management Award (APPK) was introduced in 2008 and has become the department’s yearly agenda.
It is to recognise pupils, students, teachers, school leaders and district education offices who excel in the field of human development.