Adib Noor
The COVID-19 outbreak impacted schools nationwide, especially the students. However, it did not hinder the students’ academic performances who had set their mind in meeting their goals of achieving outstanding results in their 2021 Primary School Assessment (PSR) examination.
“Eighty-two students achieved grade ‘A’ in five subjects meeting the school’s goal in reaching 50 per cent and more students with such grade in all subjects,” said Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (YSHHB) Primary School Headmistress Hajah Mariam binti Haji Ladi during a recent ceremony to celebrate the students’ achievement.
The headmistress shared that during the pandemic, schools nationwide resorted to online learning, and Hajah Mariam lauded the school’s teachers for adapting to the situation within a short time. “Online learning was the main tool to prepare the students for their exams,” she added.
One of the students who achieved grade ‘A’ in all subjects was Aleesya Erynna Haziqah binti Azerin, who said that online learning was a difficult transition. She noted that it was new to teachers and students and that it took time to adjust. It was also difficult as lessons were determined by the stability of the Internet and other technical aspects.
However, it did not hinder her determination, and with help from her teachers she focussed on revising and reaching out to the teachers for guidance. “When COVID-19 hit the country, the school managed to show that online learning can be fun,” she said.
Awangku Muhammad Waiz Wazien bin Pengiran Ashwadol Bahri, who achieved similar results, stated that one of the challenges during the online learning was preparing for Maths as it was difficult via online learning.
“With the support of my teachers and my family, I was able to overcome the challenges,” said the five-A student.
Meanwhile, the YSHHB headmistress attributed the school’s excellent performance in the examination to the strong support of stakeholders, management, parents and teachers’ dedication and also the dedication of the students.
She explained that the outbreak affected the education landscape and forced teachers and students to adapt to the challenge of not being able to continue their usual face-to-face learning to prevent the spread of the virus. “The PSR exams had to be conducted online and results are based on School Assessed Marks. This was a difficult challenge for the students as their final results were affected by several factors which included previous exam results and more,” she added.
With their much deserved achievements, Aleesya Erynna Haziqah and Awangku Muhammad Waiz Wazien shared that they hope to continue to succeed in their academic endeavours. Both are eager to study as things are gradually transitioning back to normal and schools are now able to continue with in-class learning, where they are able to personally interact with their peers and teachers.
