SMK Lubok Buntar

One Step at a Time

SMK Lubok Buntar, Serdang, Kedah Darul Aman

In 2015 beginning, SASTRA was preparing to identify another school in another state and visited various schools in Malaysia. During our visit to State of Kedah, SASTRA was invited with the support of a Fellow from Teach for Malaysia (TFM) who was keen to work with SASTRA to support SMK Lubok Buntar. Our visit indicated that SMK Lubok Buntar has all the potential of being the next Role Model school for state of Kedah under “Shift 9”. This is due to the school leadership clearly understands the Malaysian Education Blue Print 2013-2025 and welcomed SASTRA to pilot and collaborate under “Shift 9” as a team. Furthermore, the commitment from school leadership, administration, teachers and students lead SASTRA to begin the process to work with SMK Lubok Buntar. However, the school had to go through a leadership change unexpectedly and delayed the plan activities. Nevertheless, the new leadership granted approvals to continue to work with SMK Lubok Buntar.

In 2016, SASTRA begin Stage 1 Process by piloting SASTRA Bright Champs Fellowship Programs with the support from English Society, Counselling Department and other departments for 100 students of SMK Lubok Buntar where similar process we carried out at SMK Taman Ehsan. Though, there are demographic different and SMK Lubok Buntar which is located at a suburban location. All expenses were 100% fully supported by SASTRA. As Stage 2, SASTRA, Cousnelling Department, English Society continued to explore possibility of working towards positioning SMK Lubok Buntar as Role Model School for State of Kedah and also as a Northern Satellite School. It has to be noted that there is a different approach towards SMK Lubok Buntar as the HCDC project is a collective effort from various clubs who invited SASTRA.

Although the approach was different the consistence and commitment provided to SASTRA resulted SASTRA to provide 1 Full Time Team member to focus on the project and support the school in various areas to ensure a collective effort is achieved. Conversely, SASTRA once again faced challenges to identify the right talent who falls under Generation Y and Z characteristic that are passionate to be at schools to support the children from this rural platform.