‘Merdeka is when children forget their worries’
KUALA LUMPUR: National Day is when children from difficult backgrounds get to free themselves from their worries, says Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih principal Zulkernai Fauzi.
“When they come to school and forget their worries, that is Merdeka to me.
“I’m proud to be a Malaysian because despite the differences in our backgrounds, we can celebrate festivals and activities together,” Zulkernai told reporters at the school’s National Day celebration here yesterday.
Students sang patriotic songs such as Jalur Gemilang and the celebration’s theme, Sehati, Sejiwa (One Heart, One Soul) followed by activities such as musical chairs.
Zulkernai added that the celebrations started on Aug 8 and would carry on until Sept 21.
The school, he added, had carried out a variety of activities such as decorating bicycles with the Jalur Gemilang, creating folios on prominent figures of independence as well as taking students on trips to historical sites.
“This way, they get to learn how our country’s freedom fighters fought to gain independence,” said Zulkernai.
The principal added that he wanted the students to experience the Merdeka celebration and the meaning of independence.
“Most of our students have not celebrated Merdeka,” he added.
For Nur Shafiqah Ameera Balqis Tajul Annur, 11, celebrating Merdeka meant the day the country was free from the colonialists.
“The celebrations have been fun because of all the activities. We also sing the national anthem everyday,” she added.
According to Zulkernai, the school was established in 2013 and focuses on educating street children.
“Our curriculum system is such that we have four systems.
“We start at the preschool level. Then there is primary, secondary and basic vocational education,” he added.
The school provides free meals to its students four times a day and does not require its students to wear uniforms.
“They wear whatever they have at home,” he said.
The school also provides classes on basic skills such as cooking, tailoring and music, among others.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who visited Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih in June, has announced a RM30mil allocation to build a hostel there.
The school currently has 143 students aged between four and 19.
Children in other schools also started celebrating Merdeka early. The three girls on our cover picture, Megan Teoh, Yasmeen Muzaffar Syah and Aishwarya Arulalan, all Year Two classmates from the Sri KDU Primary school.
They started their celebrations by attending the launch of Zubedy (M) Sdn Bhd’s Say Something Nice campaign at their school.
The campaign, held in conjunction with National Day and Malaysia Day, has been going on since 2011.