Ranau primary school does Sabah proud

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (centre) congratulating Areha Heavena Azri (front, left) and Jetty Lorrend (second right) while presenting the Sabah government's contribution of RM10,000 to SK Kirokot Ranau.

KOTA KINABALU: Having poor Internet access has not stopped a primary school in Sabah’s rural Ranau district from coming out tops in a number of international innovation competitions last year.

Among the multiple accolades SK Kirokot Ranau has achieved was the victory by its two Year Six pupils Areha Heavenea Azri and Jetty Lorrend in the World Youth Invention and Innovation Award in Indonesia.

They also won the Organisation for Creativity, Innovation and Invention Promotion held in Nigeria and Virtual Innovation Competition UiTM Kelantan International held virtually last year.

Their winning innovation was named Face Mask 2.0, which was made using materials from plastic bottles. Areha and Jetty also won the Sirim Special Award.

The school also achieved a first for a rural primary school when it won the Teaching Professionalism Creative and Innovative Group Carnival (KIKPK) national award, beating more established schools and educational institutions in the country.

SK Kirokot teachers Hallsen Justin, Indro Ebin and Juhidin Jukilin won the KIKPK award for their innovative interactive online mathematics game.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor presented a cheque for RM10,000 for the school’s innovation fund in a brief ceremony at Menara Kinabalu here yesterday.

“Congratulations to the teachers and pupils. Such achievements are not easy for a rural school facing many challenges including connectivity.

“This is proof that with hard work and dedication, nothing is impossible,” he said, hoping that the school would continue to bring pride to Sabah, while other schools emulate the determination shown by these teachers and pupils.