Students and teachers at SMJK Dindings are enamoured with its information technology facilities. SUZIENA UDA NAGU reports.

There is no other place that they would rather be. It is “cool” to be in school, say students of Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Dindings in Pundut, Perak.
“Our school is paradise,” says a former student, who is now studying at a private college in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.

The students are indeed very fond of their school. Teachers report that students would return after lunch and spend their entire evening there.

Former students would regularly pop by, lamenting how much the miss their alma mater.

The quaint and quiet school has its charm but the students are not referring to the surroundings.

To the technology-crazed students, school is “paradise” because of the unlimited access they get from the school’s much talked-about Information Technology facilities.
Tiong Ting Ming, the principal of SMJK Dindings, says the students pay RM10 a month to use the facilities.

“By paying a minimum fee, they can surf anytime they want, print as much as they want and more.” He adds.

Liew Kok Meng, 16, and Zukifli Mohamed, 17, are among students at SMJK Dindings who have benefited from the facilities.

The two friends represented their school at the “Multimedia Power Point Competition 2001” at Sekolah Menengah Teknik, Ipoh, in September and defeated 20 other schools to win the Best Multimedia award.

“Our presentation was on the scientific process of soap using animation,” says Zukifli.

Ironically, some four years ago, Zulkifli and Liew were not interested in computers at all.

When Liew came to SMJK Dindings, he knew nothing about IT. But now the Form Four student names IT as his favourite subject.

“I would like to study IT after I leave school. I dream of creating o software with a better and simpler operation system,” he says.

Fifth former Zulkifli feel privileged to be enrolled in the school although his interest in IT only began after he was in Form Two.

“ I was not very interested initially because I was not familiar with computers . But after visiting some websites with interesting graphics, I was impressed and decided to take up the skill.”

Now, Zulkifli plans to study hard for his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination as he is eyeing a place in the Malaysian Multimedia University.

Teachers too have received great exposure and training in IT, making them then envy of teachers from neighbouring schools.

Lucy Cham Pou Lian, who teaches English, Econimics and Commerce, recalls how IT-illiterate she was.

“Before the training took place, I did not even know how to shut down the computer. Thanks to the training, I have been able to design my own simple website,” she recalls.

She adds: “When news about SMJK dindings began to spread, everyone thought we were IT experts. That is not entirely true. We are given training but not enough to qualify us as experts!”

Still, that did not stop Cham’s neighbour from soliciting help for “tutorials”on using the personal computer. Cham, of course, was more than pleased to help.

Today, the school’s reputation as a fully-wired school too has earned them the trust of other schools in the district of Manjung.

Mohamad Zaki Jamaluddin, an IT teacher , says SMJK Dindings has been appointed the Examination Analysis Centre for the district.

SMJK Dindings hopes to play a bigger role in the community. Tiong is planning to open the facilities in the school to the public as well as providing training to them in the future.

“This is part of the role of a Smart School and also a service to the community ,” he says.

A rather ambitious plan for a small school but SMJK Dindings has gone so far and achieved so much that nothing now seems impossible.
“That’s why I am really proud to be in this school.” Says Zulkifli.

A believer in lifelong learning

But the principal feels that he has given the students a better alternative. Parents and students seem to agree with him because SMJK Dindings has not lost any students due to his firm stance.

In fact, it is the rival schools who are losing their students to SMJK Dindings. Now they too have introduced IT in their schools to avoid student “migration”.

But before more parents start clamouring to register their children with SMJK Dindings, the coveted schools wants to make one thing clear.

It may be the best Smart School around, but it is not the best in overall academic excellence.

Tiong says: “We are average performance-wise. Although we have the facilities, it is unfair to equate the amount of investment we have put into this project with the student’s performance.”

A believer of lifelong learning, he is not so concerned about academic performance. He is in fact more proud of the fact that his students have evolved from self – conscious kampung kids into confident, independent and responsible citizens.

Having only six more years before retirement, Tiong is not too sure if he wants to leave quite so early.

“But I have considered the possibility of leaving the school and providing my expertise to other schools, and doing more for my country.”

But when the time comes, Tiong hopes that his replacement will be someone who has the same interest and foresight.

“I have laid the foundation. The infrastructure and culture are there. It is up to him or her to develop and adopt it to his or her approach.”

One thing is certain. The struggle must continue for the sake of the students.

“Kampung kids don’t have ample opportunities to realise their dream.”

Thanks to Tiong, they do now.