Little entrepreneurs shine at school mid-autumn sale

The mid-autumn celebration sale at SJK (C) Serdang Baru 2 was a platform for pupils to learn about entrepreneurship.— Photos: Handout

A MID-AUTUMN Festival sale attracted some 2,000 people and provided a real-life learning ex­­perience for little entrepreneurs from SJK (C) Serdang Baru 2, in Seri Kembangan, Selangor.

It attracted parents, grandparents, former students and community members, eliciting joy and connection.

The pupils learning how to sell, present their products and communicate with customers during the event.

Board of directors, parent- teacher association (PTA) and alumni association members also came to show their support.

The event included activities such as lantern parade and lantern riddle games.

From preparing merchandise and setting up the stalls, to greeting customers, introducing products and closing sales, the pupils – guided by their teachers and parents – carried out their mini businesses enthusiastically.

[L to R] Loh Chew Koon, Celestia Tai, Hazel Lim, Ng Yoke Khuan (Headmistress), Dr Ho Soon Min (PIBG chairman), Darren Yap Kiat Boon (Chairman of the Board), Lim Wai Boon (Alumni President), Roy Chong, Bruce Toh

The sounds of children calling out their wares and laughing, along with the encouraging voices of parents, created a festive atmosphere.

Board of directors chairman Darren Yap Kiat Boon said the school’s ability to organise these kinds of events relied not only on planning by the administration and the dedication of teachers, but also on the support of everyone.

He said the value of school events was not just in enabling students to enjoy a festive occasion, but more importantly, in giving them the opportunity to apply what they have learned and showcase their talents in a real-world setting.

PTA chairman Dr Ho Soon Min commended the event, highlighting that the job of helping a child develop was a joint effort of the family and school.

He said that parents who were willing to come to school to participate in activities with the children, offered the most direct form of encouragement and support.

Alumni association chairman Lim Wai Boon said the school’s “Little Entrepreneurs Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration” was not merely about pupils setting up stalls to sell goods, but enabled the children to experience the entire process of a project, from preparation to completion, through hands-on participation.

He said students had to think about what to sell, how to set up their stalls, present their products, collaborate with their peers and communicate with customers.

These seemingly simple processes offered valuable learning opportunities, he added.

SJK (C) Serdang Baru 2 headmistress Ng Yoke Khuan said modern education could no longer be confined to the classroom as schools needed to enable students to apply in real-life situations what they have learned.

“It is not enough for them to merely master the reading and writing skills found in textbooks, they also need to know how to communicate effectively with those around them and even complete tasks with courage and confidence,” she said.

She noted that during the event, the children demonstrated seriousness, engagement and initiative, revealing a side of themselves to teachers and parents that was different from what was seen in the classroom.

She hopes that through diverse, real-life-oriented learning activities, students would be encouraged to try new things, find joy in learning and embrace responsibility, while also discovering their capabilities through participation.