No more primary school goers...

2  January 2013, first day at school for primary school students, standard 1 to standard 6 ..... and it suddenly struck us that we have no one going to that primary school anymore. It felt weird and awkward passing by the school, busy with cars and parents... and we are not part of that chapter anymore. Ever since Thaqif checks into secondary school, the primary school period is now over.

We missed those hectic December month.... going to the school bookshop to get the list of books and items to prepare for the new school year, buying the white, peach and blue shirts, blue long pants, white baju melayu and green or red samping...and those first day registration, meeting the class teachers and paying the fees...sometimes on the 3^rd floor, and sometimes the 4^th floor!!

All the 3 kids went to Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Setia (SKTS) in the morning and Sekolah Agama Rakyat (SAR) Madrasah Al-Ittihad in the afternoon where both the schools are nearby the house, 300 meters away, within walking distance and is safe for riding bicycle. Dini started in 2001, Faiz in 2004 and Thaqif in 2007, or since 2001 until 2012, a total of 11 years engaged in the primary school world as parents and the challenges and experiences have certainly been valuable and full of colours, alhamdulillah.

We thought Sekolah Kebangsaan is still the best primary education available in the country although being still exam centric and equally important for Muslim students is the Sekolah Agama, which only 30% of Malaysian parents bothered to send their kids to... due to various reasons. Unfortunately, SAR does not get equal resources and emphasis from the Government and normally becoming the victims of politics. However, we have different views when it comes to secondary education, based on our personal exposures, experiences and aspirations. It is interesting to note that although Selangor has Sekolah Agama Rakyat for primary students by JAIS, Kelantan does not have similar system for primary but the emphasis was rather for secondary.

What is more important is what we can do to help both the national and religious schools to deliver the objectives of providing education to the kids and that is where active involvement in PIBG, as much as you can, is very-very important. I believe this is a key difference between Sekolah Kebangsaan and Sekolah Cina; poor attendance to PIBG meetings and poor participation from parents can be a hindrance for progress and excellence. There must also be enough positive and balance collaboration between the teachers and parents. It depends on how the people and the leaders navigate the tricky course but the key thing is to take part in the process and we salute those who volunteer to be AJK PIBG for an honest and noble reason. It’s not the magnitude of your contribution that is most important but the readiness to contribute is what matters.

We will certainly miss the PIBG meetings and all the activities like the sports day, hari kantin, solat hajat, hari ihitifal, hari anugerah kecemerlangan and hari report card...and of course the night tuitions twice a week and mengaji twice a week....gonna have to do something else now to occupy the time.

Hari Ihtifal Dini in 2007

Abah and Dini at one of the school's ceremony

We made a point in the past that we will arrange for a trip for the kids before they leave school and we would normally made the arrangements with the class teacher plus selected parents whom we think can help, early in the school term. Kakak’s class went to Eagle Ranch in PD, Faiz’s class went to Ricardo Camp also in PD and Adik’s class went to Gambang Waterpark in Kuantan... a trip for them to remember and cherish their friendship for the past 6 years. I hope this activity will still be continued with participation from more parents.

Equally satisfying is the episode when we collaborated with the community to implement a one way traffic system around the school in 2010, which is still in operation until today. Alhamdulillah, at least something can continue to benefit the schools and the community for as long as the system is suitable.

Dini's trip to Eagle Ranch in 2006

Dini's friends

Faiz's trip to Riccardo Camp in PD in 2009

Water confidence

Flying Fox

6 Geliga 2009

We met many beautiful people, students, parents and teachers. We would like to thank all the teachers, both in Sekolah Kebangsaan and Sekolah Agama plus the tuition teachers and the guru Quran, who have been involved in educating and teaching our children.....and we pray that Allah the Al Mighty will reward you and your family your all the efforts, patience, honesty, dedication and commitment.

We have to move on into a new episode in life and there will be new challenges waiting for us just around the corner. We pray that Allah will continue to guide and protect us throughout this uncharted journey, in sha Allah.