The Malaysian Insight

NEARLY a year since schools were closed because of Covid-19 movement controls, low-income parents continue to struggle with online classes, prompting some MPs to take matters into their own hands for their constituents.

Major hurdles for hard-up families include poor internet access and a lack of equipment, invariably meaning devices must be shared, so inevitably many pupils fall behind in their lessons.

Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim Chee Keong, who launched the Asal Cek Mau Pi Sekolah (As long as you want to go to school) programme last month, said of the various services under the initiative, demands for laptops were the most popular.

The programme offers free printing of homework sheets, online tuition classes, SIM cards for data subscription, and use of laptops or tablets.

“We launched this because the Education Ministry’s report last year showed that 36.9% of pupils do not have computers, tablets, laptops or smartphones needed for online classes,” Sim said.

Within a month, more than 1,000 applications have been submitted for aid.

“Some people have suggested that we close applications, but we will continue accepting them.

“It is true we won’t be able to help every single one, as we are only raising donations for 400 devices, but we will still try our best. We have to give people the benefit of the doubt, they may be slow or late in submitting their application.”

Before approving applications, Sim’s team screens the candidates, including making house visits. This includes some instruction on caring for and using the devices, which are worth between RM600 and RM1,000 each.

“The team has visited hundreds of homes, and only after careful discussion and ensuring understanding, are the devices given to them.”

Many parents become emotional when they receive the devices for their children’s use, Sim said, adding that these made for some of the programme’s most memorable moments.

“They are in a combined state of disbelief and relief. We hope that they will ensure the children use the devices to study hard.

“There was a woman who brought her grandson to my service centre and cried upon receiving a laptop. They are very poor and receive only RM300 in zakat money each month. She said her grandchildren have missed so many lessons over the year.”

Sim considers public education to be in a state of crisis now, affecting more than three million pupils and 400,000 teachers nationwide.

“What we are doing with our little programme is really insignificant.

“Many children are using their parents’ mobile phones to study. Imagine how difficult it is to study online for three to four hours on a mobile phone with a small screen.

“The government’s failure to manage the epidemic has triggered this education crisis, but is ignoring it. If we continue to take no action, we will reap the education problems of today in the next 10 to 30 years.”

The government so far promised to provide hardware to help needy pupils as part of the Cerdik initiative to give 150,000 free laptops in 500 schools, announced under Budget 2021. The laptops are sponsored by 13 government-linked companies.

However, it was revealed last month that the laptops are only on loan to pupils.

Muar MP Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman asked what are pupils to do if the device is damaged and whether poor families will have the means to replace them.

Meanwhile, Kluang MP Wong Shu Qi said many poor families have more than one child in school, making sharing devices difficult.

“Take, for example, a family with three children in school but it only has one mobile phone. A cruel choice has to be made as to which child gets to use the phone for his or her classes.”

Wong said her constituency office has received more than 300 applications for free computers, including from those living outside her constituency.

“Unfortunately, we’ll have to prioritise the poor families in Kluang first. It is sad that we won’t have the means to help everyone, we can only help those nearest us.”

Even though only one free device can be given to a poor family, that one extra piece of equipment can give some assurance to pupils and parents, she added.

This is especially in cases when pupils from the same family have class times that overlap.

Wong’s service centre will evaluate applications from M40 families as well, in addition to B40 households, as many middle-class families are struggling too, she said.

“As long as the children are willing to learn, we will take them into consideration.”

One company has also begun repairing and recycling old laptops for pupils’ use.

Electronic goods maker, Khind, through its Khind Starfish Foundation began such a programme last September.

Foundation president Cheng Ping Keat said it was motivated by the needs of poor pupils who had trouble switching to online classes because of the pandemic.

“Many children cannot take classes without computers. Therefore, the foundation decided to cooperate with others to recycle and repair computers to meet their needs.

“Don’t underestimate your old computer, or feel that it is out of date and useless. By donating it, you can help a child with their studies.”

Cheng said old but usable computers will be repaired and improved. Broken or unusable ones can still be mined for parts, which can be reused. 

Either way, a child somewhere will benefit, he said, urging people to donate their old laptops and computers to any of Khind’s branches nationwide. More information can also be obtained by calling the foundation on 016-381-9112.

Cheng told the story of a pupil who was the only one in his class who did not have a computer. His teacher contacted the foundation and was able to receive a free laptop for the boy.

“After we sent the computer to the child’s home, the mother called us every day to say thank you. The teacher also reported to us that after a few days of lessons with his ‘new’ computer, the child’s attitude had changed. He became more positive.” – February 19, 2021.