ISLAH ENGLISH SCHOOL

SCHOOL CREST

School Memoir in Kota Bharu

Islah English School was a very popular private school in Kota Bharu Kelantan at one time and now it no longer exists. The school had a good system of administration and pedagogue. It was divided into two sectors; one was independent [private] and the other was government. Private section was more distinguished. It had more students and staff. There were two different headmasters to admin the school.

Mr. S. M. Ishak was the longest and famous headmaster served in private section. He was a very strict and firm man I ever met. He made his rounds by walking along the corridor with a cane in his hand. I was in his English class while in form V and to me; he was the best English teacher I ever came across. He used to create jokes without smile on his face. However, he allowed class to roar with laughter.

Those days, most pupils cycled to school and we were not allowed to cycle abreast; it was against the traffic rule yet we liked that way. When I was in the afternoon session, I still remembered; on the way home, if pupils cycled in a single line meant the headmaster was standing by the road side in front of his house. He didn’t do anything just stood there and the children automatically obeyed the rule!

The school setup that time was; new pupils without knowledge of English joined Special Malay class for two years [SM I and SM II] then they entered standard six, SM I was equivalent to standard four. After std. six, pupils then joined form one and in form three they faced examination called Lower Certificate of Education [LCE]. Two years later, in form five they sat for final exam: School Certificate organized by University of Cambridge Local Examination Syndicate in collaboration with Ministry of Education Malaysia. The certificate was signed by Vice Chancellor. Those who obtained good results could apply for higher learning institutions or to sixth forms of other schools.

The school was well known in co-curriculum such as sports, games, uniform activities and concerts compared to academic. Most activities organized by the school attracted crowds especially youngsters. As far as I could remember, believe it or not, most girls of the school were beautiful and the boys too, I mean handsome, that might be the reason. I wonder how they looked now! However, they were talented and some of them became successful businessmen, government servants, professionals, good athletes and artists. We were known as Islahians. I left the school before taking final examination [SC/MCE] to join other institution in other state.

Mr. S.M. Isahak the Headmaster

Some of my school mates:

Sharifah

Rahmah

Mohidin

Rohani

Zainab

Yaakob

Bidi

Matt

Rahimah

Nawi Zain

Hazizah

Rohani Yusof

Nawi

Tg. Normariam

Halim 

Mek Ai

Hamidah

Nik Ahmad

 

Syed Osman (Ed Osmera)

Ismail

                                                    

                                      Kadir

                                                                        

                                                                Khayum

                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                      Mokhtar

                                                            

                                                 Mr Mohin                       

                                              Prefect Master    

               

Photos of other friends are not available, lost contact.