Lunch Date with Madam Tan

Date: 11th November 2009
Time: 2 p.m.
Venue: Secret Recipe, Kluang Mall

Today six heads of panels from Kluang schools had a farewell lunch for Madam Tan (my principal), the chairperson for the Kluang District English Panel. She is retiring in January 2010 so I won't bid her farewell yet as she will still be in school. I was very embarassed, to say the least, as Madam Tan and Mawarni were already there...haiz. I was caught in the traffic on the way to Kluang Mall. Although some panel heads could not make it at the last minute, we had a good lunch and the atmosphere was informal. I managed to get something for her the day before on behalf of the others but I struggled a bit with the fruit basket (not having the flair for basket decoration!- apologies madam). I hope she likes the multipurpose cooker! (Happy Cooking! - not easy to buy a suitable gift yaa..) Thanks to Nuha (who rushed all the way from Sri Lalang), Huda (all the way from Kahang Timur), Hjh Noraini, Mastura, Linda and dear Mawarni. That night Mastura text me to suggest that we should have such gatherings in future. What a great idea! Such gatherings will be good breathers for all of us!

Briefing for Kluang District Excellent Teachers (ET)

Date: 5th November 2009
Time: 2.15p.m
Venue: SMK Taman Kluang Barat

Tn Hj Jalil Satari from PPD Kluang conducted a briefing for all excellent teachers (ETs) on the need to focus on the upcoming SPM examination. He presented data on the SPM Trial Exam for the state and the district. Kluang is placed 6th out of 10 districts with a GPS of 6.35. He also wants excellent teachers to oversee 4 programmes:

1. The setting up of a task force based on subjects. The task force will be concerned with: analysis of subjects, teaching and learning consolidation programmes for teachers, creation of curriculum standards for subjects (e.g. students' work), expert help from District Panels and Programme for 2010.

2. Subject Teacher's Immersion- MGC Kluang to identify the teachers, modus operandi, schedulling etc.)

3. Innovation- action research, teaching and learning innovations, teaching modules and KMKK (Kumpulan Meningkatkan Mutu Kerja). The PPD is planning to have an Action Research Seminar for Excellent Teachers (ET) in 2010. And finally...

4. ETs' teaching and learning should be a model to others e.g.s teacher's profile, record book, delivery and student's work and marking.

Sounds a mouthful, doesn't it? Well, certainly not for the faint-hearted..good luck ETs!!

If some people have their way, they would want me to blog like this (robot-like) from now on- a joke- get it? :)

Majlis Guru Cemerlang Johor 6th Meeting

Date: 5th November 2010
Time: 8.30-3.00 p.m
Venue: SM Sains Johor, Kluang

The 6th MGCJ meeting was held today. Also present were Pn Haizan from Johor State Jemaah Nazir dan Jaminan Kualiti (JNJK) and En Samsudin Haron, Assistant Director, Johor State Education Department who are coordinating officers for excellent teachers in the state. The issues discussed were:

1. Johor contingent's task as the Committee for Documentation and Video in the upcoming national conference of Majlis Guru Cemerlang Malaysia in Seri Pacific Hotel, in Kuala Lumpur from 21-25th Nov. There will be 226 excellent teachers attending the conference from all over the country. The official opening ceremony will be graced by the Deputy Education Minister, Dr Mohd Puad Zakarshi. Invited speakers for the plenary sessions will be Hjh Serina Saun (Senior Principal of SMK Sains Miri, Sarawak), Dr Sidek Baba (UIA), En Mohd Noh Daipu (Singapore) and Dato Nik Faizah Mustapha (former Ketua Nazir). There will be 16 parallel sessions and I will be presenting a paper too. This will be my third participation in the national conference.

2. Also discussed was the distribution of the MGCM 2010 diaries of which Johor will receive 400 as allocated by the national committee. The meeting also endorsed the formation of standardised bureaus for the state and districts and updating data for all MGCJ members, the MGCJ Roadshow and financial report.

3. En Samsuddin Haron (JPNJ) touched on a very interesting issue i.e the marketability of our students (the lack of it rather) globally. The MOE is concerned about this finding after recruiting a foreign consultant to do a study on the education system. One of the findings was that the curriculum did not focus on creativity and inovation. He further mentioned that Excellent Teachers are the main group of teachers (kelompok perdana) that will be focussed on to spearhead creativity an innovation amongst students. This explains the recent recruitment of many Excellent Teachers by the MOE. The meeting continued at 2.30 but I had to leave for the briefing for Kluang excellent teachers as SMK Taman Kluang Barat.

Reading Club 5

After reading 'The Kite Runner', I became a fan of Khalid Hosseini. This is his second book and it is gut wrenching. It tells of a tragic story about two women living in Kabul through the Russian invasion and the Taliban uprising. The story unfolds from the eyes of two women and highlights their struggles with abusive men and the issue of subordination. I like the way Hosseini writes- he is detailed and yet he adds enough suspense and twists to keep the plot interesting. It is one book you will not put down. However, if I were to choose between 'The Kite Runner' and this one, I would go for the former. Still, a wonderful read.