Olympics unites Fearns and Malaysia

Reporter: Catherine Smyth
Date online: 19 July 2010

AN EAST West link between Malaysia and Rossendale was cemented with a visit to Fearns Community Sports College. 

The principal of Borneo school SMK Ranau Yahadi Yasili and the head of PE Mohusyen Amin visited the Stacksteads sports college as part of the 2012 Olympics initiative International Inspiration. 

The two institutions will be linked through a series of sporting and literacy schemes aimed at breaking down barriers, improving language and encouraging youth to participate in sports.  Fearns headteacher Mark Smallwood, who has already been to Borneo to visit the Sabah school with director of specialism Jane Leigh, said: “There are exciting times ahead at Fearns as the two schools work together.
“While our visitors were here they got to learn more about Fearns and meet the pupils and also went to Balladen Primary School and Tor View. Our sports and leisure day was being held so they got to see pupils horse riding in the equestrian centre.
“The programme centres around sporting themes and it is about getting a global dimension into the curriculum.” 

Mr Amin said: “Fearns is an excellent school with very good facilities and the pupils are very welcoming.” Pupils have already begun corresponding with their Malaysian counterparts through emails. Mr Yasili said: “The main difference was that the teachers at Fearns were fully involved in all school activities and not just teaching their subject. It was impressive to see every teacher helping out with activities on sports day. 

“We have learnt a lot from the visit and are looking forward to the next two years of our project where we will have sport and literacy leaders trained in Malaysia and the UK and they will report through a web based newspaper about our joint events.”
Miss Leigh, who will be leading the project at Fearns, said: “Both schools are of a similar size. In Borneo there are many different races and religions in the same school but they are very proud of the way they all get on.  “This programme will help to unite to two programmes and have benefits not just for sporting achievement but also enhance literacy in both schools.”