No longer ‘samseng’

When Hwang Hsien received her offer letter to pursue her secondary education at the then SMK Jalan San Peng, her heart sank.

The thought of spending her next five years in an area widely known for not only gangsters, but also drug distribution and betting syndicates was dreadful.

Like most other parents, Hsien’s parents were concerned about the learning environment in the school, fearing that it might affect her academic performance as well as emotional development, as youth is one important stage in life where character is shaped.

Hsien then immediately applied for transfer to an all-girls school near her place, but her application was unsuccessful.

Jeya with (from left) Sook Yan, Wong Sek Yau, Muhd Khairul Basysyar, Nadaraj and Hsien.

“Only dropouts went to that school in San Peng, my relatives said to me,” says Hsien, who is now in Form Five and a prefect at SMK Dato’ Onn – the new name of the once notorious school surrounded by the San Peng flats.

Hsien is glad that she is still at the same school and is going to sit for her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) – not for only one reason but for many.

“I knew all this while that people tend to associate us with gangsters and tease us because San Peng rhythms with samseng.

“But our school is really not as bad as what most people outside describe.

“In fact, we have responsible and caring teachers and a very dedicated principal. They look after us very well, and are concerned about our academic performance as well as our welfare,” she says.

For Form Five student Nadaraj Paramasevam, 16, the first few months at SMK Dato’ Onn was stressful.

“It took me three months, when I was in Form One, before I could settle down and study because I had heard so many stories about the school before I enrolled.

“Some of the stories were about the bad discipline problems, “ he says.

Changes in school

As a prefect for the past four years, Nadaraj says he has not seen many major fights in the school.

“In fact, our students are quite obedient as they listen to our discipline teachers.

“They also cooperate with the prefects,” says Tham Sook Yan, 16.

“The teachers are also stricter than before. For example, if an SPM student does not attend the after-school tuition class, the principal will call the student up herself to find out why,” she adds.

Apart from re-enforcing the rules and regulations, the principal also took an unusual step.

“Our principal has put up mirrors in school! It’s so cool.

“She did this because she wants us to tidy up ourselves whenever we can, especially our hair.

“I guess she wants us to project a positive image to the public at all times,” laughs Sook Yan.

For former student Jivita Thestnamoothi, 18, the programme which forced students to speak only in English and Bahasa Malaysia in school was very helpful.

“That really helped to strengthen my language skills.

“This was a big help as I think English proficiency is essential when I plan to further my studies or look for a job in the future,” says Jivita, who is waiting for her SPM results.

Jivita’s mother Susila Pakuruddin, who also studied at SMK Dato’ Onn two decades ago, says she wished the school administrators had changed the name earlier.

“During my days, whenever I told people that I was from San Peng school, they would surely ask why I didn’t go to a better school and start teasing me.

“And for this reason, I always tell my daughter, ‘don’t bother about what people think of you; if you have the heart to study, you can study anywhere’,” she says.

Sook Yan’s uncle, who also graduated from SMK Dato’ Onn many years ago, is all for his alma mater.

Initially, he was against the idea of Sook Yan attending the school because of all the stories about gangsterism.

“However, he changed his mind when he heard of the changes and improvements in the school.

“Now, he even plans to send his daughter to our school next year,” says Sook Yan.

For some students, a school’s reputation is not everything.

“It is not so much which school we come from, but how we conduct ourselves and project our image to the public.

“We should not be judged based on which school we attended,” says 18-year-old Mun Seng Kit, who was head prefect before he graduated.

Let’s work together

School alone is not enough. Parents and teachers should work hand-in-hand when it comes to students’ welfare.

“Interaction and communication are important. From there, we can find out what is troubling the students and how we can do to solve it,” says Hsien’s father, Hwang Vnwai, who was a committee member in the PTA a few years ago.

“The school has a new name now but it may take sometime before the public will look at the school in a positive way.

“But give them some time. They are getting there,” he says.

Education

Sunday February 19, 2006

No longer ‘samseng’

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