Kelantan Orang Asli Students Make History With Residential School Placements

KOTA BHARU, Feb 15 (Bernama) -- Three Orang Asli students from Kelantan have made history after being offered places at Fully Residential Schools (SBP) for the upcoming school session beginning Feb 23.

State Education Department (JPN) director Siti Norina Muhamad said the three 13-year-old students are Muhamad Putra Faizul Ab Ghani, Nur Muhammad Al-Khawarizmi Rosmi and Nor Cristina A/P Ranya.

She said the last time Orang Asli students were admitted into fully residential schools was 10 years ago, and the success of these three students proves that such achievements are attainable when opportunities and continuous support are provided.

“Kelantan JPN is extremely proud of their achievements. Two of them have been offered places at Sekolah Menengah Sains Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra, while another has been placed at Sekolah Menengah Sains Gua Musang.

“In addition, the Education Ministry will bear the registration expenses for all three students,” she told reporters after the Kelantan JPN monthly assembly at Dewan Sri Tunjong here today.

Meanwhile, one of the recipients, Muhamad Putra Faizul, a student from Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Rual in Jeli, hopes that his achievement will inspire other Orang Asli children to strive for admission into fully residential schools. 

The eldest of two siblings said he aims to excel academically and prove that students from the Orang Asli community are also capable of healthy competition in academics if they possess determination and perseverance.

“I will make full use of this opportunity to achieve my ambition of becoming a Bahasa Melayu teacher so that I can contribute and help future generations succeed,” he said.

-- BERNAMA