Daniel Lim & Lyna Mohamad
Nur Zahra binti Haji Mohammad Ghazali recently began her secondary school education after graduating from Sungai Tali Primary School in Lumut.
She’s enrolled into Year 7 at Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar Secondary School (SMPJNPHAB) and is looking forward to the new chapter.
“While I am nervous about starting school in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar faces, I am also eager to start making friends and continue to learn,” she said to the Sunday Bulletin.
“For 2023, I want to be more confident, more active, I would like to work harder while also enjoying my studies and making my parents and teachers proud,” she said.
Nur Zahra joins the hundreds of students across the country to begin Year 7, the start of their secondary education, often in different, larger schools with wider catchment areas.
Teachers and school administrators work to ensure that they are well-adjusted to their new learning environments.
“The preparation to welcome the new Year 7 students were done in October and November of last year, when we finalised the various programmes and activities that will be conducted during the Year 7 admission,” said SMPJNPHAB Principal Claxairi Lasit.
The school is holding an orientation programme until January 11, where students as well as their parents and guardians are able to speak to teachers and attend talks. This includes speaking to the Counselling and Career Unit, which guides the students to achieve their desired career paths.
Meanwhile, in Menglait Secondary School, principal Huzaimi bin Haji Moksin welcomed around 140 Year 7 students to the school. In a speech, he encouraged parents and guardians to be involved in their student’s education.
“I believe that with your involvement, the students’ passion to improve themselves will never fade,” he said. The principal also urged parents to be mindful of their children’s attendance, as those below an attendance rate of 85 per cent will not be able to advance.
The school held a three-day orientation programme which includes briefings, ice-breaking sessions as well as career counselling.
