(Back row, from fourth left) Rajendran and H’ng with the winner in the secondary category, SMK Datuk Hj Mohamed Nor Ahmad school, at the prize-giving in George Town.
A debut entry clinched first place in the Penang Green School Award that fosters a green culture in education.
SK Tanjung Bunga took top spot in the island-level primary category at the annual competition among Penang schools, organised by Penang Green Council.
Headmaster Baba Al Haris Sharbudeen said, “The win came as a complete surprise, as this was our first time participating, and I myself only began serving at this school in July.”
Baba attributed the achievement to the collective effort of teachers, pupils and parents of the school located in Tanjung Bungah.
Left: SK Tanjung Bunga pupils, teacher Gourmet Vediappan (right) and Baba (left) with part of their project using LED lighting to promote plant growth. — Photos: LIM BENG TATT/The Star
“We adopted a holistic approach by involving teachers, pupils and parents.
“We also focused on the competition’s key criteria such as resource efficiency, recycling and innovation,” he said.
Based on this focus, Baba said responsibilities were clearly divided among teachers who played specific roles and provided guidance directly to pupils.
He said strong support from parents and the Parent-Teacher Association also helped the SK Tanjung Bunga team throughout their three-month preparation period for the award.
Above: Law (right) with SMK Datuk Hj Mohamed Nor Ahmad teachers and students tending to vegetables in the school’s garden.
Team member Nurul Alisa Damia Fadzi@Faudzi, 12, said, “This was the result of strong teamwork and commitment.
“Everyone contributed in their own way, whether during practice or on the competition day itself.
“This win belongs to all of us.”
Muhammad Rayqal Musri, 11, noted how his school friends worked together towards success.
“We were assigned to groups for different parts of the project.
The event also saw displays by participating schools. (Above) SMK Datuk Hj Mohamed Nor Ahmad showing some miniature potted plants and (below) a pupil from SJKC Union demonstrating his school’s green project.
“My group showed how LED lighting helps plants grow faster and saves electricity,” he said.
Other aspects, he added, involved recycling, upcycling and watering plants to green the school environment.
SK Tanjung Bunga won RM2,000 and a certificate for top spot, and another RM200 for its first-time participation.
In the secondary school category, SMK Datuk Hj Mohamed Nor Ahmad emerged winner for the second time in three years.
Teacher and project coordinator Law Yee Chen said the school won for the first time in 2023 and placed second in 2024.
“We managed to wrest back the title of champion in 2025,” she said, attributing the win to the students’ hard work.
A pupil from SJKC Union demonstrating his school’s green project.
Law said that it was not an easy win, as awareness of green culture within the school in Gelugor was initially very low.
“We decided to start slowly, beginning at classroom level.
“We encouraged students to bring recyclable materials, while recycling bins were placed in every classroom.
“After that, we exposed them to real-life practices by taking them to observe how other schools and local communities implemented environmental initiatives,” she elaborated.
The school also organised beach cleanups to instil a stronger sense of responsibility towards nature.
Law said some 100 students across Forms One to Five worked in groups for the competition.
Team leader Nur Batrisya Amani Mohd Rozaimi, 15, said the students were divided into groups to work on their respective parts while fostering a green culture within the school.
“Within these groups, an appointed committee ensures that every member practises green habits at school.”
She added that students dedicated time to the project after school and during co-curricular periods.
SMK Datuk Hj Mohamed Nor Ahmad won RM2,000 and a certificate. It was also crowned winner in two other categories and received an additional RM500.
A total of nine secondary schools and 32 primary schools from Penang island participated in the 2025 competition.
State local government, town and country planning committee chairman Jason H’ng Mooi Lye and Penang Island mayor Datuk A. Rajendran presented the prizes during a ceremony held at Jalan Patani Community Hall in George Town.
