MOHAMAD Hidir Mohamad Kasim was flunking mathematics, and barely passing his other subjects.

His older brother's taunts - that there was no point in his going to school since he could not even make it in primary school - did not help.

But what a difference a year has made.

After failing his Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) for the second time last year, the 14-year-old enrolled at NorthLight School, set up in January this year for those who have failed the watershed exam at least twice.

The son of an odd-job worker and housewife now loves school, is a school councillor and has consistently scored over 80 marks in maths.

Conceptualised as a vocational school, NorthLight's mission is to help the Ministry of Education (MOE) reduce the drop-out rate in schools from the current 2.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent.

The school in Dunman Road has been a work-in-progress since its opening. It has gone for student- centred learning, with an emphasis on activities rather than books, and has worked at raising the self- esteem of its charges.

For the teachers, class-time has meant finding creative ways to engage the students.

Barely a year into operations, the school has recorded enough positive changes among its students for the MOE to revamp the other vocational institute, Assumption Vocational.

The progress chalked up at NorthLight has also convinced the MOE to extend its reach: From next year, even those who have failed the PSLE once - about 2 per cent of the Primary 6 cohort every year - will be eligible for admission.

Enrolment at the school will go up from the current 200 to 360 next year, but priority will be given to those who have failed the PSLE two or more times.

Last year, 250 out of the 50,000 who sat for the exam flunked it a second time.

How has NorthLight forged its own path the past year?

The MOE's praise for its having made a difference in its charges notwithstanding, NorthLight Principal Chua Yen Ching and the school's teachers have a more grounded view on the school.

Said Mr Mohd Norzaidi Ahmad, 34, who heads pastoral care and career guidance: 'Like any other school, we have our fair share of problems.

'But we know we're in for a marathon and we can't run it like a sprint. We are learning as we go along.'

Mrs Chua, known for turning neighbourhood school Shuqun Secondary around, said NorthLight's programmes are continually reviewed in the school's trial-and-error way forward. 'Every term, we 'play back' what we had done the term before and make adjustments.'

In teaching maths and English, for example, the teachers learnt that not every student was as able as the other, or as slow, for that matter.

The maths teachers turned to placing the students into groups to solve maths problems the hands-on way, with the teacher going from group to group.

In other lessons, students flash pocket-sized green and red cards, just like soccer referees do, to let teachers know whether they understood what was taught - red for 'no' and green for 'yes'.

Maths teacher Angeline Lim, 38, said: 'At one glance, you know how many need more help and how many don't. This way, the students also don't feel embarrassed to admit that they don't understand the lesson.'

Even with nine years' teaching experience, she has had to dig deep for ways to keep her students interested, a process which makes her feel like an entertainer.

'You can't just make them sit and listen to you. Once you see them looking slightly bored, you have to change your strategy,' she said.

Textbooks are not a must here and lessons are drawn up from scratch by the teachers.

Tools like the online satellite maps presented by Google- Earth, interactive white boards and pamphlets from fast food outlets are common tools used in classes.

Examinations, like those for maths, have practical components. Even physical fitness lessons, loved by many students, are constantly reviewed.

Teachers consult their charges so that activities of current interest are offered. At the moment, they include in-line skating and floorball.

Mr Mohd Norzaidi, referring to the premium the school puts on communication, said: 'It shows them that their opinions are important and that the school is there for them.'

Mrs Chua got an idea of how much school had come to 'be there' for the students when the June holidays rolled around.

She had assumed that the students would want to spend their holidays away from school, but she and her teachers learnt - after requests from the students - that a large number of them wanted school activities that month.

She was floored. Scrambling, she contacted volunteers to conduct enrichment activities during the holidays, supervised by administrative staff, so that teachers were left free during the holidays to 'recharge'.

To carry through the school's aim to 'be there', home visits are done as a matter of course by Mrs Chua and her teachers.

The school has also set up an internal Internet portal, where students can leave messages for teachers and even Mrs Chua herself.

She said: 'We try to respond as soon as we can even if it's not a pressing issue.'

At this school, form teachers have lunch with their class, and spend half an hour after the school assembly to discuss concerns the students may have.

Teachers also put up names for 'Student of the Month' awards and run support groups for students who want to quit smoking.

The idea behind this is to keep students wanting to come to school, and it has worked with Mohamad Hidir.

Said the boy for whom school used to be 'not fun' but who has not missed a day since he joined NorthLight: 'Now the teachers don't let me give up. They support me and tell me to study. I appreciate myself and my school.'

He added that even his brother has seen the difference.

'He was so happy that I passed all my subjects this year that he bought me a cap for soccer and gave me a hug.

'He's never hugged me before, so he must have been very proud.'

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