Quey Sera, Sera.....

Thursday October 13: D.Day for more than ½ million plus 11 – 12 year olds of this country. It was the government (pre-planned announcement) on UPSR (Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah) 2008 result on the morning of that day.

Much anticipations, expectations and probabilities in the minds of most young parents throughout the country. So would be for my 3 children. Like other young parents, I presumed they too would take leave from works, to be around with their children. (Lucky though they did not rope in the Grandpas and the Grandmas to tag along.)

That morning while most of their children would be in their respective classrooms heralding the impending final term holidays, these young parents, fretting in the canteens as well the school compounds waiting for the authorities to lash out the long awaited news of the year.

I had 3 candidates put to test for this year's UPSR. They are my grandchildren, a boy and 2 girls. I anticipated by 10.00 am the least, ( akin the announcement of The General Election Result) the news would trigger in. I also believe, like most General Election Results, preferences for early announcement would be favoring the most talked about candidates. And so be for the UPSR result this year. My 3 grandchildren (Erfan,Nureen & Aifaa) are the most talked about candidate in our family circle. They are the pride of their parents, their Grandpas and their Grandmas. Of course, The Breaking News would be for the top scorers. Those garnering the converted 5As, as their parents would readily loud their candidates achievements. Other results, the 4As1B,the3As2Bs,the2As3Bs would follow suit. I was depending on that for the morning.

That was what exactly happened. Good news needs no embargo. Good news travels fast. The Breaking News for the morning was from my eldest daughter. Her son scored 5As. both Grandpas and Grandmas must be informed. Its time to rejoice.

Sometimes later the 2nd news - an SMS from my other daughter. Her eldest daughter got 3As2Bs. Since Grandpa had sent a congratulatory SMS note to Erfan Hamad with copies to the others (dirty old man’s trick) he need to be immediately inform that Nureen Hanna scored 3As2Bs. Not too bad for Nureen. (Tak malu bagi tau orang.)

Then what about my other granddaughter - Nurul Aifaa. I anticipated her score to be equivalent to Nureen Hanna, if not better. Finally my daughter-in-law SMS me……”Dear Babah, …I will let Aifa herself tell U all her results. Iam…….” I could’nt believe my eyes. Has disaster struck my son’s family. Did Aifaa flop the exam? Cannot be. Nurul Aifaa is an intelligent 12 year old. I voucht on that. She may be playful, but a responsible girl. Or my daughter-in-law, just pulling my legs? I was fixated.

Then came this message of a Family gatherings at The Lemon Garden, Hotel Shangrila KL on the night of the 16th from my daughter in-law: TO CELEBRATE ERFAN, AIFAA & NUREEN UPSR RESULTS + AYSHA'S BIRTHDAY. It was a 5 star++ celebration. The invitation justify my belief that ( after all) my 3 grandchildren did well in this years UPSR. Syukur Alhamdullillah.

.........

I had my first taste of Ujian Penilaian Kelayakkan when I was in standard 3 in a rural Malay School. The Ujian Penilaian Kelayakan was for admission into the Special Malay Class in the Government English School the following year. Me and another from the same school was selected. Father and Mother was too happy for me attending English Education the following year. They believed that English was the ultimate language to master, as the country was under British rule then. Mother prepared Nasi Kunyit for the doa kesyukuran.

Looking back the Ujian Penilaian Kelayakkan that I took in 1952 has changed my lifelong career developments and opportunities. (Serve as Public Servant for 35 years. Professionally trained in UK and Germany. Throughout my career represented my country in various inter-governmental meetings as well professional seminars on communication hosted by UNESCO, AIBD,ISBO and others, The Governments of Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippine, Hong Kong, Japan, USA, Korea, India, Senegal, Saudi Arabia, Egypt & Tunisia.) Not bad for a Kampung Boy groomed by illiterate rural parent of the pre-Merdeka era.

'Quey Sera Sera,

Whatever will be will be;

The future not ours to see,

Quey Sera Sera.

I prayed to Allah for all my grandchildren livelong achievements.