KUALA BESUT: Illustrious schools in the country were urged to emulate the success stories of prestigious learning institutions like Eton College in England if they wanted public recognition.
Making the call, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said that local schools should strive to compete with established international academies if they want to improve and churn out credible students whom they could be proud of.
"Perhaps it is time to set up your own 'Hall of Fame' to honour your current and past students who have excelled academically, in sports, in their professional careers or in public service, just like how international institutions have done.
"By doing so, it will spur other students and even teachers and parents to emulate great names," he said at the launch of a book on Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Raja's (SKKR) 100 years centenary celebrations at the school in Jalan Haji Omar.
Idris also presented the Tokok Cendekiawan award, launched the 'Galeri Warisan dan Keunggulan SK Kampung Raja' (Heritage Gallery and Excellence of SK Kampung Raja), an adoption certificate of the school by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), and officiated the science laboratory ground-breaking ceremony at the school premises.
Among the famous sons and daughters of SKKR were former minister Tan Sri Mohd Yusof Noor, UMT vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Nor Aieni Mokhtar, former Lord President Tun Mohamed Sallleh Abas and TV9's news and current affairs executive editor Wan Sabariah Shikh Ali.
Idris urged the school authorities to keep intact items like badges, emblems, flags, uniforms and the like to reflect the school's original identity, culture, traditions and heritage to safeguard's its history.
SKKR, established in 1916 as the oldest school in Besut, had moved its premises four times before returning to its current location for various reasons, including natural disasters and development.
History has it that it derived its name after a chieftain, the Raja Besut, Tengku Long, who also happened to be the last commissioner of Besut. The school's first headmaster was Tengku Kasim Mohd Yusof, while its current is Che Husin Ismail.
On another matter, Idris announced that Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Nazri Aziz and Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman would launch the establishment of Universiti (Tan Sri) P. Ramlee to honour the late legendary Malay film actor, at the abandoned Knowledge Park in Tembila.
Several other universities, including UMT, will also have their campuses there.
Meanwhile, Media Prima-NSTP's Volunteer Brigade joined hands with TV9's news and current affairs team to organise a gotong-royong and a host of activities at SKKR.
The corporate social responsibility programme, themed '#GALERIILMUBERITATV9', included the handover of the 'Galeri Ilmu' (Knowledge Gallery) to the school authorities.
Wan Sabariah said the programme included booths for sales of merchandise, 'Robot Rumble', STEM (science, technology and mathematics), and colouring and printing puzzle.
She said the school was a disaster relief centre for emergencies like floods in Besut.
"We have channelled RM20,000 from the Tabung Bencana NSTP-Media Prima towards the 'Galeri Ilmu' project. We have carried out similar CSR programmes in previous years, including providing a playground for the people of Kuala Krai in Kelantan under the '#PulihkanHarapan' project in 2015.
"In 2016, the '#PulihkanHarapan' project contributed a van for the less fortunate children of Rumah Perlindungan Nur Hati Ampang, Selangor, and last year we donated computer equipment and arranged a counselling session for parents of autistic children at Pusat Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti San Peng, Kuala Lumpur," she said, adding that the initiatives were part of Media Prima's continuous engagement with communities across the country.