Rural school joins the elite centenary club
RIZALMAN HAMMIM
2009/06/08
It was a proud day for SK Minyak Beku in Batu Pahat, which turned 100 on June 1, writes RIZALMAN HAMMIM
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| Students perform the ‘zapin’ dance for guests during the school’s thanksgiving ceremony. — Pictures by Mustapha Ismail |
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| The school may be small, but it is beautifully landscaped and maintained. |
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| Deputy Education Minister Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi signs the monument to commemorate the school’s 100th anniversary. |
THERE are not many schools in Malaysia that can claim to be 100 years old. Premier schools like Sultan Abdul Hamid College in Kedah, Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur, King Edward VII School in Taiping and Malay College Kuala Kangsar are the elite few.
But now, SK Minyak Beku, a small rural school in Batu Pahat, has joined the ranks of these illustrious institutions. It celebrated its centennial anniversary on June 1.
SK Minyak Beku was built on a 0.4ha piece of land that was donated by Israkal Ismail, a local community leader with the title of "Penghulu Orang Kaya Setia Raja."
The original structure was at the Kampung Teluk Buloh Malay Football Club before a new wooden building was built with the help of villagers in 1913. The wooden building was used until 1918.
The school started with only 60 boys and one teacher, Awang Abd Ghani, who also doubled as the headmaster.
In 1918, the state government built a new building that was equipped with a toilet and a well. Another similar building and a teachers' quarters were contructed in 1932.
The school's current three-storey building was built in 1984, and has six classrooms, an administration office, a teachers' room, a library and a canteen.
SK Minyak Beku headmistress, Sa'adiah Idris, said the school holds a lot of memories and nostalgia for the administrators, teachers and students who once served or studied there.
"I hope this milestone will spur the process of building human capital at the school and empower the students to realise the targets outlined in the Education Development Masterplan," said Sa'adiah.
To celebrate the 100th anniversary, a thanksgiving ceremony was recently organised by the school's Parent-Teacher Association.
Joining in the celebration were Deputy Education Minister Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, who is also the Batu Pahat member of parliament, and Johor education director Sufa'at Tumin.
Guests at the ceremony were entertained by kuda kepang and zapin performances by students. Exhibitions by the Fire and Rescue Department and the National Anti-Drug Agency were also held.
Puad unveiled a small monument to commemorate the centennial of SK Minyak Beku and launched the school's information kiosk.
He said he was proud that a school in his constituency has reached the centenary milestone.
The SK Minyak Beku Alumni Association was also established during the event as an avenue for former students to keep in touch.
One of the school's famous former students is noted religious scholar and former Bangi assemblyman, Datuk Dr Amran Kasimin. The school has also produced a number of doctors, engineers and teachers.
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