Wednesday January 27, 2010 “It is good to see the parents, teachers and students taking part

in the activity. This effort should truly be praised,” he said.

Gotong-royong to clean up school He also said such activities also helped strengthen the spirit of
By SARBAN SINGH camaraderie among the students and their sense of belonging to the
WHILE their peers were either settling into the new school term school.
or a new environment, students at SMK Puteri near Seremban
“You must love your school because it is here that you learn
sacrificed their Saturday rest day to took part in a gotong-royong at
most things in life. You owe this much to your school,” he said.
their school recently.
He also advised parents to inculcate the importance of
Led by the school’s principal, Jamiah Bashar, and Parent-
gotong-royong in their children to ensure they knew the importance of
Teacher Association head Mohamad Alias, the students turned up as
such activities.
early as 7 o’clock and swung into action within minutes.
“Your children will automatically take the initiative to clean up
They were divided into groups and briefed on what to do by
their surroundings if they participate in such activities often. When this
their teachers. They were then sent to different locations within the
happens, we will surely see a decline in diseases such as dengue,” he
school premises with one aim — to rid their school compound of
said.
rubbish.
Adapted from:
Armed with brooms, dustpans and garbage bags, they went all
Surban Singh. (2010). Gotong-royong to clean up school.
over the place — the school’s Seri
Kandi Hall, the toilets, reflexology
garden, the field and classrooms.

A lorry from the Seremban Vocabulary problems?

Municipal Council was also brought
in to remove the garbage. day off = a day when you do not work

Mohamad said the event camaraderie = a feeling of friendliness towards people that you work
was held to inculcate a sense of or share an experience with
belonging in the students.
inculcate = to put a feeling, idea or principle slowly into someone's
Figure 1 Enhancing friendship: The
gotong-royong also helped enhance Datuk Hasim Rusdi, who mind, so that it has a strong influence on the way they think or behave
respect and teamwork among students launched the event, commended
of different races. initiative = a new action, often intended to solve a problem
the students and their parents for
sacrificing their day off for the clean-up.
Questions:
1. What is the text mainly about?
a. A ‘gotong-royong’ event at SMK Puteri
b. The new school term has started
c. The importance of ‘gotong-royong’
d. The SMK Puteri students’ sacrifices
2. At what time did the students arrive at school?
a. 7.15 a.m.
b. 7.35 p.m.
c. 7.00 a.m.
d. 7.05 p.m.
3. What was the students’ aim?
a. to prevent diseases such as dengue
b. to rid their school compound of rubbish
c. to enhance friendship
d. to show their love for the school
4. What were the tools they use for gotong-royong?
a. brooms, garbage bags and dustpans
b. brooms, shovel and watering can
c. brooms, trowel and rake
d. brooms, gloves and paintbrush
5. Which word can best replace the phrase ‘the spirit of
camaraderie‘?
a. relationship
b. friendship
c. association
d. partnership
6. Once a child understands the importance of ’gotong-royong’,
she/he will immediately clean up their surroundings. This will
help to ____________ diseases such as dengue.
a. increase
b. decrease
c. add
d. drop
Let’s write!
Many people around your school area have
been reported with dengue, including some
of your classmates! So, last weekend, your
school organised a 'gotong-royong'. Write about what
happened that day.
Your essay must be more than 250 words.
Use your imagination, create something from your past
experience and bring in something new!