Muhyiddin akan lancar Bulan Bahasa Kebangsaan

KUCHING: Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, yang akan melancarkan Bulan Bahasa Kebangsaan peringkat nasional di sini Selasa ini, dijangka menemui pemimpin parti komponen Barisan Nasional (BN) negeri semasa lawatan beliau sehari ke Sarawak. Menteri Perancangan dan Pengurusan Sumber, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, yang mempengerusikan jawatankuasa penganjur lawatan itu di sini hari ini, bagaimanapun tidak memberitahu agenda lawatan tersebut pada mesyuarat tertutup dengan empat anggota parti komponen BN negeri. Beliau berkata, Muhyiddin dijadual menghadiri majlis ramah tamah Hari Raya anjuran Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) cawangan Kuching di Kompleks Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) yang lama di sini selepas pelancaran Bulan Bahasa Kebangsaan itu.
Kira-kira 5,000 orang dijangka menghadiri majlis itu di Stadium Perpaduan, katanya sambil menambah bahawa aktiviti yang diadakan termasuk tayangan video Bulan Bahasa Kebangsaan, koir 1Malaysia dan "Tiada Kata Secantik Bahasa" oleh Institut Pendidikan Guru Batu Lintang, penceritaan dan nyanyian artis popular Ramli Sarip. Awang Tengah berkata Muhyiddin kemudian akan merasmikan majlis pecah tanah sebuah blok baru SMK Kuching High. - Bernama

PIBG perlu selesai isu disiplin
PORT DICKSON 29 Sept. - Penyelesaian masalah disiplin pelajar bukan hanya tanggungjawab pihak sekolah semata-mata tetapi harus dipikul bersama oleh Persatuan Ibu Bapa dan Guru (PIBG).
Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran, Dr. Mohd. Puad Zarkashi berkata, PIBG boleh berperanan besar dalam menyelesaikan masalah itu dan pada masa sama tidak menjadikannya sebagai isu besar.
"Kita bimbang isu masalah disiplin ini akan menjadi polemik malah lebih memburukkan keadaan jika ia menjadi isu politik.
"Kementerian berharap PIBG berfungsi sebagai pemangkin dengan sama-sama menyelesaikan masalah di sekolah terutama gejala disiplin di kalangan pelajar," ujarnya.
Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang akhbar selepas menghadiri Majlis Penyampaian Sijil Pendaftaran PIBG Kawasan DUN Bagan Pinang di sini hari ini.
Turut hadir Pengarah Pelajaran negeri, Datuk Abdullah Muhammad.
Menurut Mohd. Puad, PIBG perlu aktif memberi sumbangan kepada pihak sekolah termasuk daripada aspek penyampaian idea untuk membangunkan institusi pendidikan negara.
"Kita tidak boleh hanya menumpukan soal pembangunan infrastruktur sebaliknya memberi keutamaan kepada pembinaan dalaman para pelajar bagi membolehkan mereka mendapat pendidikan berkualiti," katanya.
Tambahnya, jika semua PIBG mengambil pendekatan itu dan bermusyawarah dengan pihak sekolah, hasrat kerajaan untuk menjadikan negara sebagai pusat kecemerlangan pendidikan akan tercapai.

UTUSAN MALAYSIA

Guru tuntut imbuhan
Oleh MARZITA ABDULLAH

Bayaran Imbuhan Subjek Penting (BISP) untuk guru mata pelajaran Bahasa Malaysia pula dituntut oleh golongan guru semasa sesi dialog sempena majlis Perhimpunan Warga Pendidik di Pusat Konvensyen Antarabangsa Putrajaya (PICC), baru-baru ini.
Cadangan itu dibuat dengan alasan bahawa dalam usaha memartabatkan bahasa Malaysia dan memperkukuhkan bahasa Inggeris (MBMMBI), peranan penting guru mata pelajaran bahasa Malaysia tidak boleh dipinggirkan apatah lagi mereka mengajar bahasa yang merupakan bahasa rasmi negara ini.
Ketua Pengarah Pelajaran, Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom ketika ditanya berhubung perkara tersebut berjanji untuk menimbang dan mengadakan perbincangan mengenai perkara tersebut.
Namun kata beliau, pada masa ini kerajaan telah membelanjakan ratusan juta ringgit untuk bagi membayar BISP kepada guru-guru yang lain.
Pada masa ini guru-guru yang menerima BISP ialah guru mata pelajaran bahasa Inggeris, Sains dan Matematik.
``Kita juga perlu memikirkan kewajarannya dan nanti ada pula guru-guru mata pelajaran lain yang turut menuntut perkara yang sama,’’ katanya.
Sesi dialog bersama Ketua Pengarah Pelajaran tersebut merupakan lanjutan daripada sesi penerangan oleh Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yang dihadiri lebih 1,000 warga pendidik dari seluruh negara.
Sesi dialog yang berlangsung selama kira-kira satu jam itu turut mendengar pelbagai masalah lain termasuk masalah kekurangan guru mata pelajaran bahasa Inggeris di sekolah-sekolah luar bandar.
Seorang guru besar dari Selangor mempersoalkan tentang tempoh perpindahan yang singkat guru bahasa Inggeris dari kawasan bandar ke luar bandar.
``Guru bahasa Inggeris dari bandar ini cantik, ada kereta besar, suami pangkat besar tetapi tidak lama di sekolah luar bandar kerana telah minta ditukarkan ke sekolah bandar,’’ katanya.
Justeru beliau mencadangkan agar pihak kementerian mengambil guru dari kawasan luar bandar untuk mengajar mata pelajaran tersebut kerana hanya guru-guru sedemikian yang boleh memahami dan menerima keadaan persekitaran itu.
``Hanya orang luar bandar sahaja yang boleh membantu pelajar luar bandar,’’ katanya.
Pada sesi dialog tersebut pelbagai cadangan turut dikemukakan oleh golongan guru termasuk mengenai tempoh mengajar yang lebih lama untuk mata pelajaran bahasa Inggeris dan tempoh mengajar yang singkat untuk mata pelajaran lain.
Turut ditanya ialah mengenai kegagalan pelajar bukan Melayu untuk menguasai bahasa Malaysia dan penggunaan sama ada bahasa Malaysia atau bahasa Melayu untuk mata pelajaran tersebut.
Selain itu turut dipersoalkan ialah kewajaran memberi BISP secara wang tunai kepada guru-guru terbabit sebaliknya mencadangkan agar pemberian baucar buku kepada mereka.
Dalam pada itu Alimuddin berkata, semua pandangan dan cadangan yang dilontarkan oleh golongan pendidik akan diberi pertimbangan yang serius.
Berhubung pelbagai isu yang berbangkit mengenai perkara baru yang diperkenalkan selepas pemansuhan Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran mata pelajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam bahasa Inggeris (PPSMI) beliau berkata, kementerian mempunyai tempoh dua tahun lagi yang membolehkan pelbagai cadangan dikaji untuk manfaat warga pendidikan semua.
UTUSAN MALAYSIA ONLINE

Document teachers’ knowledge for reference: Ghani

By Peter Boon
SIBU: Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) wants the knowledge of experienced teachers to be documented to help groom those new in the profession.
Its president William Ghani, who made the call yesterday, pointed out that the document would form a point of reference for new teachers.
Ghani suggested that a teachers’ development community be formed to oversee the matter, which was among the six resolutions passed during the union’s Third Executive Council Meeting on Saturday.
“The documentation of teachers’ knowledge and experiences had not been done comprehensively over the years. As such, we feel that there is an urgent need for such documentation to help newcomers to teach better and more effectively,” he told The Borneo Post in an interview.
The president pointed out that over the years the extensive (tacit) knowledge of these experienced teachers were lost when they retired as they were not translated into a manual/document (explicit knowledge).
He added the new approach would also encourage the sharing of knowledge among teachers.
Teaching, he said, was a very specialised area, which required the latest knowledge and information.
For that, the experienced teachers will share their knowledge gained over the years with the new ones.
Graduates then can also update veteran teachers with the latest development in teaching.
Asked whether a knowledge portal would be set up to assist teachers who required guidance, he said: “If it serves our members better we will put it on our STU portal.”
Turning to the teacher development community, he explained this will provide a forum for teachers to exchange their views and inputs.
Among other things, it will also provide training to teachers in the area of pedagogical skills and continuous professional development, he stressed.
“It is crucial for teachers be trained on how to handle students and parents. More importantly, to teach students in a more effective manner so that they can read and write properly,” he said.
In this regard, he suggested that such community be formed in every division.
Ghani added that the teachers’ development community is an expansion into the more professional area.
This, he said included engaging experienced speakers from overseas to impart their knowledge to teachers to upgrade their skills and capability.

-BORNEO POST

Amenity fee payment in one lump sum next year: STU By Peter Boon
SIBU: Schools will collect the amenity fee in lump sum from students starting next year.
HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT: (Seated, from second left) Huo, Ghani, Teng, Jong and others at the STU Third Executive Council meeting.
This was stated by Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) president William Ghani yesterday, who added that the amount would be collected at the beginning of the year.
Ghani added that the fee varied according to schools as the amount was fixed by the parent-teacher associations (PTA) and the school management.
“PTAs and school committees must come to agreement on the amount to be collected from students after working out their respective requirements.
“But the amount must not be a burden to parents particularly those from the lower income bracket,” he told a press conference after the Third Executive Council Meeting of STU at a hotel here.
Citing an example, he said if they fixed the fee at RM100, it could drain parents financially if they had several school-going children.
Asked what if the amount was not agreeable to parents, he said that was why they insisted parents turned up for the PTA meetings to voice their concern.
Admitting that many parents do not usually turn for the meetings, Ghani suggested that PTA chairmen drafted a letter for parents to sign to get their consent on the matter.
The letter, he said, should clearly state that parents would abide by whatever decision made in the PTA meetings.
This, he added would help to prevent any conflict or misunderstanding between them later.
He however did not discount the possibility that some parents might refuse to pay, creating glitches for the schools.
Asked what if parents had problem in making the lump sum payment, Ghani said parents could always approach the schools to work out a solution.
“The schools may allow them to pay in instalment after studying their situation in detail,” he pointed out.
Turning to the parents, he hoped that they would be able to contribute as the amenity fee was utilised to benefit their children.
The fee, he added, was for printing and photocopying of examination papers, for purchasing of other educational aid and so forth.
Dwelling into detail, he said the amount collected would be split into two separate accounts – school and PTA.
For that matter, students would be issued with two receipts for the lump payment received, he added.
He said this would ensure that the money collected was properly managed and accounted for.
“The schools will manage their side of the fund and the PTAs will manage theirs,” he said, adding that this would prevent any confusion that might crop up in the future.
Earlier, a six-point resolution was passed, among others, urging the government to set up a teachers’ council to complement the role of the Education Service Commission and implement the Malaysian Teachers’ Standard.
STU also proposed that a Teacher Development Community be formed in every division to enhance pedagogical skills and continuous professional development of members.
They also urged the government to implement a consolidated one-tier teaching service having better career path for teachers.
Among those present were STU secretary-general Thomas Huo, treasurer-general Jong Lai Fook and vice-president Polycarp Teng.

-BORNEO POST

Ganjaran Khas Pendidik
Oleh:
MOHAMMAD YASIR JAAFAR pengarang@utusan.com.my

PORT DICKSON 18 Sept. - Kerajaan akan mengumumkan satu bentuk ganjaran khas kepada seluruh warga pendidik berdasarkan prestasi mereka menjelang Oktober ini.
Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran, Dr. Mohd. Puad Zarkashi (gambar) berkata, ia selari dengan hasrat kerajaan mempertingkatkan akses pengajaran dan pendidikan berkualiti di negara ini.
''Ia masih pada peringkat penelitian yang kini sudah hampir 90 peratus selesai dibincangkan di bawah perincian Bidang Keberhasilan Utama Negara ketiga (NKRA-3).
''Saya yakin ia akan diumumkan sendiri oleh Menteri Pelajaran, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin pada bulan depan," kata beliau.
Mohd. Puad berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas menghadiri program perjumpaan khas bersama warga pendidik daerah Port Dickson di sini malam tadi.
Beliau memberitahu, ganjaran itu akan diberikan kepada sekolah, pengetua dan guru di seluruh negara yang mempamerkan prestasi cemerlang.
''Mana-mana sekolah, guru besar, pengetua dan guru yang menunjukkan prestasi cemerlang, layak untuk diberikan ganjaran berkenaan.
''Inisiatif ini adalah untuk memberikan ganjaran kepada warga pendidik yang komited dalam membantu kerajaan bagi membentuk sekolah berprestasi tinggi menjelang 2012,'' katanya.
Menurutnya, dengan ganjaran itu, warga pendidik tidak lagi perlu memikirkan atau menunggu pemberian bonus serta kenaikan pangkat.
Dalam perkembangan lain, Mohd. Puad memberitahu, kementerian itu akan mewujudkan sebuah unit khas dalam memperincikan soal pembangunan pendididkan luar bandar.
''Menerusi unit ini, kita yakin ia mampu merapatkan jurang pendidikan antara sekolah di bandar dan luar bandar.
''Unit ini juga akan berfungsi mempertingkatkan bukan sahaja keadaan fizikal sekolah di luar bandar dari segi infrastruktur dan kemudahan malah termasuk soal pemantapan pengisian pendidikan di kawasan terlibat," jelas Mohd. Puad.

Gagal PMR, ulang semula tingkatan tiga?
KUALA LUMPUR 10 Sept. - Seorang tokoh pendidikan menyarankan supaya pendekatan mengulang tingkatan dilaksanakan semula terhadap pelajar tingkatan tiga yang gagal dalam Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) berbanding membenarkan mereka naik ke tingkatan empat secara automatik.
Presiden Majlis Permuafakatan Persatuan Ibu Bapa dan Guru (PIBG) Nasional, Prof. Madya Dr. Mohamad Ali Hassan berkata, perkara tersebut merupakan cadangan yang perlu diberi perhatian oleh kerajaan selain membenarkan pelajar meneruskan pelajaran dengan mengambil mata pelajaran vokasional.
''Ia untuk mengelakkan berlakunya pembaziran tenaga dan kewangan dalam sistem pendidikan negara," jelasnya ketika dihubungi Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.
Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas surat pembaca di ruangan forum akhbar ini yang meminta kerajaan mengkaji semula dasar yang membenarkan pelajar naik ke tingkatan empat biarpun gagal dalam PMR.
Timbalan Presiden Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS), Syed Annuar Syed Mohamad pula berkata, pihaknya memang tidak bersetuju dengan tindakan Kementerian Pelajaran melonggarkan syarat ketat untuk naik ke tingkatan empat sebelum ini.
Katanya, sudah tiba masanya sistem itu diteliti semula bagi membolehkan proses penilaian sebenar dilakukan terhadap pelajar.
''Pelajar PMR yang gagal tidak boleh dipaksa naik ke tingkatan empat untuk mengambil mata pelajaran yang tidak diminati kerana ia membuang masa mereka sahaja.
''Sebaliknya, beri pilihan dan peluang kepada pelajar untuk mengikuti mata pelajaran berasaskan kemahiran di sekolah vokasional,'' ujarnya.
Menurut Syed Annuar, memang tidak dinafikan golongan pelajar tersebut juga boleh mendatangkan masalah kepada sekolah, oleh itu kajian segera dasar itu perlu dilakukan demi menjana pembinaan modal insan.
Pandangan sama turut disuarakan oleh tokoh pendidikan, Tan Sri Ainuddin Wahid yang berpendapat kerajaan perlu melihat dan mengkaji semula dasar tersebut.
''Sesebuah sistem peperiksaan diadakan adalah untuk menilai kemampuan dan tahap penguasaan pelajar terhadap sesuatu mata pelajaran yang dipelajari,'' ujarnya.
Beliau berkata, tidak perlu diadakan peperiksaan sekiranya pelajar hanya mengambilnya tanpa mahu menguasai mata pelajaran tersebut dan sekadar melengkapkan syarat untuk naik tingkatan.

UTUSAN MALAYSIA

cuti berganti 18 Sept 2009

circular- please click this:http://www.nutp.org/malay/images/pekeliling/raya.pdf

jenis-jenis pendidikan di Malaysia

Jenis-jenis pendidikan di Malaysia:
For more information, please click this:
http://pmr.penerangan.gov.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1151:jenis-jenis-pendidikan-di-malaysia&catid=9:pendidikan&Itemid=10

From Borneo Post-Boy wit JE sues school for over RM 1 Mln

Boy with JE sues school for over RM1 mln

By Churchill Edward
KUCHING: A 13-year-old boy, who has been diagnosed with Japanese Encephalitis (JE) when he was a boarder of a school in 2006, is now suing the school and the school principal for more than RM1 million in damages for allegedly failing to ensure that the school environment was safe and healthy.
The Education Ministry and the Health Ministry as well as the federal and state governments were named as co-defendants.
The plaintiff is claiming that the defendants failed to take all reasonable steps to protect him and other children of the boarding school from the ‘deadly’ viral attack in 2006.
According to the boy, the school is situated just next to a pig farm.
The first session of the hearing in the Sessions Court here started on Monday and ended yesterday.
The next hearing will be from Oct 7 to 10.
The boy’s 43-year-old father is suing the six defendants on his behalf.
The plaintiff’s lawyer, Shankar Ram, has called six witnesses, namely two virologists, three health experts and one high ranking official from the Health Ministry to support the minor’s claim.
At least five more witnesses, including the boy’s parents, would be called during the next hearing session.
The boy was a fee-paying student of the boarding school.
After a weekend break on Sept 24, 2006, he was placed under the care and supervision of the teacher and principal.
On Sept 27, 2006, the boy claimed that a teacher and the principal sent him home and left him there, unattended.
The next day, his father got to know of his ‘serious fever’ and the boy was taken to a district hospital, where the doctors suspected him of having contracted JE.
The boy was subsequently referred to the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) here which confirmed that he had contracted JE.
The suit also stated that as a result of the viral attack the boy sustained “significant dysfunction of the brain and therefore he is now permanently disabled, both physically and mentally, with serious neurological deficit.”
The suit also referred to various articles from the website which was summed up as:
“In early 1999, Malaysia as a whole experienced a major outbreak of the viral attack. Human vaccination is the only method that has been proven effective against the viral attack.
JE occurred in most Asian countries because countries such as China, Malaysia and Taiwan are the main exporters of pork in Asia that still practised the traditional ways of rearing pigs.
The farmers who are still using the old ways did not vaccinate their pigs even though the farms are built in areas of known JE activity. Staff who work in these farms are lacking of vaccination, too.
These farmers also did not invest in treatment plants to clear effluents because the traditional ways can help them cut down their costs and contribute to higher profitability.
As a result of using the traditional ways, the rivers are clogged with pig wastes because those farmers just ‘dump everything’ into the river. The clogged rivers then become the perfect place for culex mosquito to breed.
To make the situation worse, those farmers and workers do not wear any protection gear such as masks, aprons and gloves during their daily work in the pig farms making them an easy target for culex mosquito.
The majority of these farmers also stay near the pig farms. This also contributes to the spread of the disease. To summarise the whole scenario, the spread of this disease is because of poor management and condition of the pig farms.
The case is presided by Sessions Court Judge Sharizat Ismail.

Komen daripada Tuan Haji Rambli - Pengetua SMK Serian

Angkat tangan siapa ingin jadi Pengetua?
2. Saya ingat orang politik yang banyak saman menyaman. Rupanya golongan guru pun boleh kena saman. Bayangkan kerja yang perlu Pengetua ini buat untuk menjawab apa juga perkara yang dibangkitkan di mahkamah nanti. Sekolah akan ditanya tentang apa yang sekolah telah buat dan tidak buat. Pengetua boleh bercakap itu dan ini. Mahkamah tidak akan percaya sehingga ada dokumen sokongan. Contoh dokumen nanti ialah nota / minit perhimpunan dengan pelajar yang menyatakan nasihat sekolah kepada pelajar. Bayangkan Pengetua, yang merasa telah "berbakti" kepada sekolah selama ini, akhirnya kena saman ... oleh pelajarnya sendiri! Sudah tentu Pengetua merasa bahawa penyakit ini adalah di luar kawalannya, tetapi mahkamah ingin tahu apa yang sekolah telah buat untuk mengelakkan penyakit tersebut. Ini bukan kes main-main!

3. Nanti pelajar boleh saman sekolah kerana dia dijangkiti H1N1, patah kaki kerana bermain bola, kena jangkitan kuman kerana terpijak paku berkarat di asrama, pelajar jatuh tingkap, pelajar cedera kerana bergaduh, dan seribu satu kemungkinan di sekolah, apa tah lagi di asrama. Kalau pelajar menyusup keluar waktu malam, dan cedera di luar, adalah sekolah masih di anggap cuai kerana tidak mengawal pergerakan pelajar? Kalau pelajar ponteng dan jatuh dari rumah kosong di luar sekolah, adakah sekolah cuai kerana tidak memaklumkan ibu bapa bahawa anaknya ponteng pagi tersebut?

4. Bagaimana kalau satu hari nanti, guru disaman oleh ibu bapa kerana anaknya gagal dalam peperiksaan awam, kerana guru cuai dalam mendidik sehingga pelajar gagal. Boleh terjadi? Ada doktor yang disaman kerana pembedahan yang gagal!
-- Thank you. Wishing you a prosperous day.

Hj Rambli Zainudin

ada bonus raya tak?

Kerajaan kaji bonus kakitangan awam

Oleh Azman Mahmood dan Khairul Azran Hussinmailto:Hussinbminggu@harian.com.my

NAJIB beramah mesra bersama penduduk sambil diperhatikan Menteri Kerjaraya, Datuk Shaziman Mansor (tiga dari kiri) ketika mengadakan lawatan rasmi ke kuarters JKR, Cheras, semalam. KSN bincang dengan Cuepacs untuk tindakan lanjut :

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak berkata, kerajaan sedang berbincang dengan Cuepacs mengenai tuntutan bayaran bonus untuk kakitangan awam pada tahun ini. Sehubungan itu, Perdana Menteri berkata, Ketua Setiausaha Negara (KSN), Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan sedang dalam perundingan mengenai perkara itu. "Tunggulah...KSN tengah berbincang dengan Cuepacs," katanya pada sidang media selepas meninjau keadaan kuarters Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) di di Batu 2 1/2 Jalan Cheras kira-kira setengah jam, di sini, semalam. Sementara itu, Presiden Cuepacs, Omar Osman percaya kerajaan akan memberi keputusan positif mengenai bonus atau wang sagu hati kepada kira-kira 1.2 juta kakitangan awam untuk tahun ini. Beliau berkata, Cuepacs berharap bonus kali ini dibayar sebelum Aidilfitri. Katanya, pihaknya sudah menghantar surat mengenai tuntutan bonus itu baru-baru ini kepada Najib untuk mendapatkan pertimbangan sewajarnya. "Kita belum mendapat reaksi balas mengenai perkara itu tetapi Cuepacs berharap kerajaan tidak mengecewakan harapan 1.2 juta kakitangan awam terutama bagi mereka yang berada dalam Kumpulan Sokongan Satu dan Dua yang amat mengharapkan sedikit sumbangan untuk persediaan menyambut Aidilfitri. "Cuepacs tidak memaksa...terserah kepada kerajaan berapa jumlah sanggup dibayar (bonus atau sagu hari). Yang penting kita (kakitangan awam) dapat menikmatinya dan kalau dibayar sebelum raya lagi bagus," katanya ketika dihubungi di sini, semalam. Tahun lalu, setiap kakitangan kerajaan menerima bonus sebulan gaji atau sekurang-kurangnya RM1,000. Omar berkata, Majlis Tertinggi Cuepacs akan bermesyuarat Selasa ini bagi membincangkan lebih lanjut mengenai permintaan bonus atau sagu hati tahun ini.

Marud Kirasah (Nutup Gawai)

A cultural experience at Kampung Rasau

By Kerine Gadep
THE breezy evening on June 20 portended a fruitful outing as members of the Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) gathered outside the Serian District Education Office before heading to Kampung Rasau, a Bidayuh village some 68km from Kuching, to attend this year’s marud kirasah or nutup Gawai which means Gawai closing ceremony in Bukar Sadong Bidayuh.
Judging from their looks, the group of teachers from Kuching, Semera, Simunjan and Serian were excited about their first visit, arranged by STU Samarahan Division, to the 125-door Bidayuh village.
They arrived at the village to a traditional Bidayuh welcome. As they stepped out of their vehicles to proceed to the village’s community hall, langgi pengadap (welcoming dance) was performed to cheers and rounds of applause amidst servings of tuak (rice wine).
While waiting for the traditional dancers to get ready, the teachers were entertained to the Drifters’ evergreen song — Under the Boardwalk — performed by the kampung’s five-year old band called The Beatro.
Subsequently, they were treated to traditional Bidayuh cuisine such as ayam pansoh (chicken cooked in bamboo), wild palm shoots, pumpkins and rice wrapped in leaves. Muslim guests were served sweet-sour patin fish, gourd cooked with cekur manis, ayam merah and fruits.
The traditional Bidayuh kuih jala and lemang (glutinous rice cooked in bamboo) were also in the menu. As the visitors were enjoying their dinner, other popular English, Malay, Iban and Bidayuh tunes were played.
The highlights of the evening were presentations of the various traditional Bidayuh dances. After dinner, six female dancers with white shawls slung across their shoulders, performed langgi rayeh to the beats of gongs, symbolising a warm welcome for the guests.
This was followed by langgi ngumpen (fetching water dance), depicting the life Bidayuh women collecting water in bamboo during the old days. Another exciting dance was langgi rejeng bauuh (eagle dance), portraying the bravery and triumph of Bidayuh men in their daily lives. With the performers dressed elegantly in ornate costumes, this dance was customarily meant to impress the opposite sex.
Langgi sijinje, on the other hand, was performed by female dancers clad attractively in white traditional costumes to attract the men of their fancy. It is believed during these courtship dances, the men would choose their life partners.
The STU members were also entertained to another striking dance called langgi julang, signifying the sacrifices and bravery of Bidayuh warriors in defending their villages against head hunters in days of yore.
Bringing back the heads of their enemies denoted courage and dignity. As a symbol of gratitude and recognition, a ritual through langgi julang, would be performed, and only true Bidayuh warriors were privileged to stand or squat on the brass tray used in the ceremony.
Probably, the best presentation was langgi kumayen or farming dance. The movements clearly showed the various stages of traditional shifting cultivation. The dance sequence showed how Bidayuh farmers made their way to the hill padi farm.
Before dawn, equipped with farming tools, they were already trekking along the jungle paths, across tree trunks and bamboo bridges to get to their destination.
The dance also depicted the burning of farmland, followed by the enthralling bibusing where Bidayuh youngsters smeared each other’s faces with ashes from the burnt wood.
In those days, Bidayuh farmland were usually large, and to make planting quicker and easier, the community practised the ngirih-ngasu concept in which families took turns to help each other. Bibusing was usually performed after nuruk (sowing).
In wet padi planting, the practice was called bitampek where the youngsters — after the long day out at work — would smear mud on one another’s face.
Another unique feature of Kampung Rasau is its cultural club called Bung Muja, formed in 1998 to preserve Bidayuh traditional dances and cultures in the village.
Its choreographer, Carrel Nambi, 27, currently taking charge of 35 students (mostly youngsters), said their cultural troupe had been invited to perform at various functions like the recent pesta berumuh (farming festival) in Serian, the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Kampung Pichin, the 2008 Independence Day Celebration and other cultural functions at Kampungs Gahat and Krusen.
Carrel learned the ropes while still studying at SMK Serian from 1995 to 1999.
Today, besides choreographing, he makes traditional costumes, including those of Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu. At the end of the function, STU secretary- general, Thomas Huo Kok Sen, presented a donation to the Bung Muja culture club.
Carrel received it on behalf of the kampung.

-Sunday Post - 5 Julai 2009

MESYUARAT AGUNG TAHUNAN STU BAHAGIAN SAMARAHAN 2009

Mmesyuarat Agung Tahunan Kesatuan Guru Sarawak Bahagian samarahan

Tarikh: 9 Mei 2009
Termpat: Bilik Mesyuarat Majlis Daerah Serian dan Pemberian Insentif Pendidikan bagi anak-anak ahli yang cemerlang dalam peperiksaan UPSR, PMR, SPM dan STPM 2008.
Program/Agenda Mesyuarat:
7.30 pagi: Pendaftaran ahli dan sarapan pagi.
8.30: mesyuarat bermula
-ucapan alu-aluan oleh Sdra Pang Kai Ming, Pengerusi STU Bahagian Samarahan
-Ucapan dasar oleh Sdra William Ghani Bina PBK, ABS, PPN, Presiden STU Sarawak.
-Pengesahan Minit Mmesyuarat ke-5 STU bahagian Samarahan
-Hal-hal berbangkit
-Menerima dan mengesahkan laporan Setiausaha
-Menerima dan mengesahkan laporan Bendahari
-Pembentangan dan pengesahan Belanjawan 2009-2009
-Cadangan-cadangan dan resolusi (jika ada)
-Penyampaian anugerah dan cenderamata
+Anugerah Cemerlang Akademik UPSR, PMR, SPM,STPM dan Matrikulalsi
+Pemberian Incentif kepada ahli yang berjaya merekrut ahli baru
+penyampaian Cenderrama kepada bekas AJK Tertinggi STU Bahagian Samarahan
+Penyampaian Cenderamatakepada Sdra William Ghani Bina (Presiden) dan Sdra.
Thomas Huo (Setiausaha Agung)
-Pembubaran AJK Tertinggi 2007-2009
-Laporan daripada Pengurus Pemilihan AJK Tertinggi 2009-2011 Puan Lai Ah Moi
-Pengambialihan Barisan AJK Tertinggi yang baru dipilih.
-Perlantikan juruaudit dan pengurus pilihan raya
-sesi dialog
-penangguhan mesyuarat agung tahunan
12.30 makan tengah hari dan bersurai

FROM BORNEO POST

‘Caning has no long-term psychological effects’ By Peter Boon
Caning aimed at educating and guiding students: Ghani
SIBU: Caning students in schools will not have any psychological effects on them in the long run, said Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) president William Ghani Bina yesterday.
“This is because it is aimed at educating them and guiding them to the proper path. We cane students because we want them to learn the right things, and not all cases warrant caning to begin with.
“The crux of the matter is that caning is not meant to punish. Therefore, it is important for us to look at it in a more holistic manner,” Ghani told.
The Borneo Post when asked for his views on recent comments made by Samariang assemblywoman Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman that caning can be re-introduced as punishment in cases of extreme disciplinary problems in school.
“Before caning, we ask students what wrong they have done to deserve the punishment. For the benefit of the doubt, we want to hear their side of the story.
“Conversely, caning them straightway without communicating with them will not do them
much good. After all, the whole purpose of meting out the punishment is to give them direction rather than to punish.
“You don’t cane your children and ask them questions later, do you?” he asked.
Ghani said in more serious cases, students would be asked to go for counselling after being caned to make sure that they understand why they were punished and to deter them from repeating the mistakes.
Speaking from years of experience in the teaching profession, he said it is important to give the young as much guidance as possible to allow them to get a proper headstart in life.
He believes that counselling is important to provide students with the necessary mental conditioning to stay away from negative influences or bad peer pressure.
He, however, said that in some cases, there is no better alternative to caning students to reinforce their education.
How many times can caning be done, and how often? Ghani said it should be limited to only three times a day.
“And only authorised persons can administer it. These are principals or headmasters. Disciplinary teachers may do it too but with written approval from principals or headmasters,” he said, adding that the approval is normally given on a year-to-year basis.
He pointed out that the blow is on the palm of the hand only. If it is on the buttocks, the student must have his or her uniform on.
Contrary to what many people believe, caning, in fact, is already in place in school, and according to Ghani its use depends on the severity of wrongdoings.
Additionally, some offenders might require counselling while others could be suspended from school.
In more serious cases, the offender might even be expelled.
Turning to the parents, Ghani said they have crucial roles in the education of their children and leading or guiding them to the correct path in life.
As such, he urged parents to cooperate and be forthcoming when asked to meet school authorities to deal with matters related to their children’s discipline.
“This is for the benefit of all parties involved particularly their children.
“We hope to update parents on their children’s performance and behavioural patterns,” he stressed.
Yesterday, Samariang assemblywoman Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman was reported to have said that caning-in-education was effective in the past and that if it was carried out properly it could still be an effective disciplinary tool today.

Condolence To Mr tony anak Uncho Of SMK Serian

With deepest sympathy to Mr. Tony anak Uncho and family on the lost of his beloved father-in-law the late Dio anak Bujang recently. May his soul rest in peace.

From STU Samarahan Division.

bullying case

Probe deeper into alleged bullying case: STU

Borneo Post 3 March 2009
KUCHING: Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) yesterday urged the police to get to the bottom of the alleged student bullying case at a secondary school in Mukah.
Its president William Ghani Bina said bullying was not the practice of learning institutions in the country, and should not be tolerated, adding that a thorough investigation should be carried out for appropriate action to be taken.
According to Ghani, he had discussed the matter with the director-general of the Education Department and was told that the Education Ministry would not tolerate such misbehaviour.
“I’m wondering where the students learn all these (bullying) from, and I feel very sad to see the victim being punched and kicked repeatedly,” he said when contacted.
He hoped both the police and the Education Department would investigate the matter thoroughly to ensure there would be no recurrence of such incidents in the future.
He said he was in Perlis when he knew about the alleged incident from TV news.
Ghani, who is Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Service (Cuepacs), Sarawak branch chairman said it was unfortunate that such an incident (if true) had happened because there were many uniformed bodies as well as non-uniformed bodies in schools, apart from the teachers who instilled discipline among students.
Describing the incident as “more of a mob attack”, he stressed that more often undisciplined students were the ones who were not members of clubs or bodies in schools.
He said the onus to discipline students was on the parents themselves, adding that parents should regard their children as a gift from God, and as such treat them accordingly.
Meanwhile, a man from Sarikei, who identified himself as Mayau, called The Borneo Post office here to specifically express his anger over the incident.
He said the incident was causing fear and anxiety among parents.
He said the culprits in the alleged incident should be dismissed from school.
“The culprits should not be given a second chance and should be dismissed from school immediately,” he added.
He also expressed dissatisfaction over “the slow reaction of the police in Dalat and the state Education Department” in investigating the matter.
He noted that a police report was lodged on Feb 23, but the police only recorded a statement from the suspects yesterday.
The man also believed that the state Education Department was slow in reacting adding: “It seems that the department is trying to sweep the matter under the carpet.”
On Saturday, state Education Department director Dr Julaihi Bujang said the department had yet to receive any official report from the school concerned, but added that the department would carry out separate investigations on the students i nvolved.
The alleged incident which was uploaded into YouTube website since Feb 20 had upset many people, including Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datin Fatimah Abdullah, who said she was saddened by the whole incident.
She feared that if the problem of the students were not addressed now, they could bring their “mob culture” which could have far-reaching impact on society.
Education director general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom in a statement issued in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, when reacting on the incident said he was very serious on the matter and would not hesitate to take appropriate action against anyone be they students or school authorities.

Utusan Borneo: 28.02.1009
Kes buli pelajar tersebar 10 pelajar sebuah sekolah menengah di Dalat disyaki terbabit dalam kes buli pelajar tingkatan 3 yang disebarkan dalam internet
MUKAH: Kes buli seorang pelajar tingkatan tiga di sebuah sekolah menengah ber-asrama di sini yang dibelasah oleh sekumpulan pelajar lain dari sekolah sama, menggemparkan penduduk di sini selepas klip video yang merakamkan kejadian itu disebar dan disiarkan dalam internet.
Insiden buli itu terbongkar dalam klip video selama 3.05 minit itu disiarkan menerusi laman web You Tube sejak kelmarin dan menyaksikan pelajar terbabit yang masih berpakaian seragam sekolah, dibelasah oleh sekumpulan pelajar lelaki dalam sebuah bilik asrama pelajar.
Dalam klip video berkenaan mangsa disepak, diterajang dan dipukul termasuk menggunakan cerek air. Walaupun mangsa cuba merayu namun tidak dipedulikan malah terus dibelasah tanpa belas kasihan. Kejadian dipercayai berlaku di bahagian ini dan perbualan yang terakam dalam video berkenaan menggunakan bahasa tempatan yang kurang jelas.
Malah laporan polis sudah pun dibuat oleh pelajar terbabit yang berasal dari Kampung Penat, Oya, bersama ibu bapanya di Balai Polis Dalat di sini pada jam 12 tengah hari, 23 Februari lalu.
Sementara itu, Ketua Polis Daerah Dalat, DSP Martin Khoo ketika dihubungi Utusan Borneo semalam mengesahkan menerima laporan berhubung kejadian tersebut yang dipercayai berlaku pada minggu lepas.
Katanya, polis memandang serius kes dan penyebaran video klip berkenaan sambil menyifatkan ia sebagai satu tindakan yang tidak wajar dilakukan oleh individu yang masih bergelar pelajar.
Martin berkata, kes dikategorikan di bawah Seksyen 323, Kanun Keseksaan dengan se-ngaja mendatangkan kecede-raan. Seramai 10 suspek yang terdiri daripada pelajar tingkatan 6 disyaki terlibat dalam kes buli tersebut.
Beliau memberitahu, kes itu diserahkan kepada Jabatan Peguam Negara sebelum diambil tindakan susulan.
“Kita masih menunggu keputusan Jabatan Peguam Negara dan akan bertindak secepat mungkin. Setakat ini, belum ada tangkapan namun saya ingin menegaskan, me-reka yang terlibat sama sekali tidak akan terlepas.
“Kita tidak memandang remeh kes seperti ini. Saya juga ingin mengingatkan orang ramai, jangan menyebarkan sebarang spekulasi sehingga proses siasatan selesai,” katanya.
Ini merupakan kes buli pelajar yang pertama dilaporkan di negeri ini dalam tahun ini.
Sementara itu, Jabatan Pendidikan Mukah ketika diminta mengulas berhubung kejadian enggan memberikan sebarang komen.
Kata Pengetua:
1. Perkara begini boleh berlaku bila-bila masa. Selagi ianya tidak melibatkan kecederaan disebabkan oleh guru / warden, sekolah mudah memberi laporan. Dalam kes begini perkara yang akan ditanya ialah:

i. Adakah sekolah menyembunyikan kes?

ii. Peraturan asrama? Ada / tidak perhimpunan asrama? Ada / tidak perkara buli disentuh? Jadual lawatan warden ke asrama?

ii. Bagaimana kes disiplin ditangani? Apa SOP (standard operating procedure) bila kes begini berlaku?

iii. Kenapa warden tidak tahu awal? Dalam kes di atas, kes itu diketahui oleh kontinjen polis di Kuching (yang monitor internet) yang tahu awal dan melapor kepada PPS. Oleh itu, para warden harus sentiasa "memasang" telinga dan mengambil tindakan awal.

2. Dasar sekolah ialah, jika ada pelajar yang merasa dirinya jadi mangsa / cedera / berdarah - sekolah bantu pelajar untuk membuat laporan polis (kecuali ibu bapa membantah, dan secara bertulis). Dengan laporan tersebut, mangsa boleh mengambil tindakan selanjutnya. Jika dia tidak mengambil tindakan selanjutnya, itu adalah pilihannya.

3. Satu lagi dasar sekolah ialah, saya tidak akan menyembunyikan masalah begini semata-mata untuk menjaga nama baik sekolah. Tetapi, sekolah tidak juga minat untuk mengorek masalah. (contoh mengorek masalah: kalau kita suspect seseorang pelajar perempuan itu mewarnakan rambut, kita tidak perlulah meminta pelajar tersebut membuka tudungnya. Walau bagiamanapun, tindakan boleh diambil jika dia mewarnakan rambut dan membuka tudung.)-- Thank you. Wishing you a prosperous day.

From"The Borneo Post" - 15 February 2009

Don’t force students to buy workbooks: STU president

By Peter Boon
Workbooks put unnecessary burden on low-income parents, says Ghani
SIBU: Teachers should not insist on students buying workbooks as this would put unnecessary financial pressure on low-income earners.
“For low-income parents who have a number of school-going children, imagine the amount of money each child needs for workbooks,” said Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) president William Ghani Bina, yesterday.
In a telephone interview here, he said that the use of workbooks was not compulsory in school.
Hence, he urged all teachers to advise their students to buy only the very necessary items.
He suggested that teachers should emphasise more practical exercises in class rather than depending on workbooks.
“They can, for instance, create their own exercises based on the textbooks which also have exercises on grammar, comprehension and so forth to further boost understanding,” he said.
Workbooks, he said, are meant for extra exercises on things like grammar, comprehension and so on.
These are necessary but not compulsory, he said.
Still, he appealed to the relevant authority to equip each school (both primary and secondary) with a photocopy machine.
“This would lighten the burden of parents who can’t afford workbooks or other necessities,” he said. He urged parents to be more flexible when asked to make contributions for printing educational materials such as exam papers, workbooks and so on.
“After all, the amount is much cheaper compared to buying workbooks,” said Ghani, who has been in the teaching profession since 1975.

Dari Akhbar Mingguan Sarawak - 8 Februari 2009
BERHATI-HATI BUAT KENYATAAN BERHUBUNG ISU AGAMA:

Kesatuan Guru Sarawak (STU) memohon para peminpin dan semua pihak di negara ini agar berhati-hati dalam membuat sebarang kenyataan atau menyuarakan pendapat mengenai isu perkauman.

Presidennya, William Ghani Bina, membuat rayuan tersebut semasa berucap pada majlis Ramah Tamah Tahun Baru Cina 2009 anjuran STU di pejabat Bahagian Kuching hari ini (Sabtu)

"Api memang senang untuk dimulakan, namun jika ia sudah menjadi besar akan menjadi susah dikawal, sehingga mungkin menyebabkan ia membakar diri orang yang memulakan," katanya.

Ghani berkata perbincangan mengenai perkara seperti itu (isu-isu perkauman dan berkaitan agama) tidak sepatutunya dibuat secara terbuka, dan bukannya dibuat secara peribadi seoalah-olah bertujuan memulakan hasutan, terutamanya ketika keadaan ekonomi dunia yang tidak menentu sekarang mungkin membuatkan seseorang itu sukar mengawal perasaannya.

"Saya ingin merayu di sini, bagi pihak STU, agar pemimpin dan rakyat Malaysia mengawal diri mereka dari membuat komen-komen yang boleh menggugat perpaduan di negara ini," katanya.

Majlis itu dihadiri oleh ahli-ahli exco STU Pusat dan bahagian Kuching.

Ghani menggambarkan STU sebagai 'mini-Malaysia' dan ahli-ahlinya di seluruh Sarawak terdiri dari mereka yang berasal daripelbagai latar belakang kaum dan agama, dari semua negeri Malaysia.

"Pada setiap hari perayaan, ahli-ahli kita yang menyambutnya namun tidak mempunyai saudara-mara di sini boleh menyabut bersama kita. Kita di STU, tidak kira apa bangsa atau agama boleh menyambut setiap perayaan bersama-sama," kata beliau.