The Malaysian Insight

THE long period of school closure because of the Covid-19 pandemic had Norashikin, a single mother of two school-going children, worried about their education.

The 36-year-old masseuse feared that her two kids, one in year one and another in year three, would be left far behind in their education.

Her son had not studied since the school closed last year even though lessons were replaced with online teaching and learning at home (PdPR).

She said as a single mother, she could not provide devices for online learning for her children.

“I was worried about my children’s situation because since the schools closed, they have not been able to study at all because there is no laptop,” Norashikin told The Malaysian Insight.

“I’m also unable to monitor and teach them because I work late at night.

“I tried to help copy my child’s assignment book given by the teacher but it was too much to catch up with.”

The situation made her determined to enrol her children in the #SelamatkanMuridCicir programme run by former education minister Maszlee Malik.

“I found out about this programme from my neighbourhood WhatsApp group and I was lucky when my children were accepted.

“It is my hope that after this, they will be able to pursue their studies that they have missed out.”

Last Saturday, Norasikin’s two children attended the interventional programme at her house in Bangi, Selangor, with a “changemaker”, or better known as a volunteer teacher, under the Untuk Malaysia programme.

Norasikin’s children are among the 100 pupils selected for the intervention programme.

The initiative was launched by Maszlee last November to address the learning problems faced by pupils since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country.

Maszlee said pupils from the B40 group suffered after schools were closed since March last year.

The programme targets preschool to year six pupils who find it difficult to read, write and count.

Happy to help out

Meanwhile, a volunteer teacher said he considers his role as a small contribution to help these pupils.

Ahmad Asyraf Abdul Rahman, 31, said as an educator, he felt these pupils needed support so he registered as a volunteer for the programme.

“I am here to teach because I want to help these pupils. They are indeed struggling in their studies here. That’s why I agreed to come onboard and teach the basics of reading and writing.

“The series of movement-control orders (MCO) in the country resulted in classes to be held online and many pupils have missed out on their lessons.

“I think this small contribution is what I can do for the nation so that these pupils do not fall behind too much,” he said.

Ashraf said as a changemaker, he has to devote one hour for each interventional class session, which would be conducted twice a week.

Asked if being a changemaker is a burden on his current job as a teacher, he simply replies that it needs to be done.

Ahmad Safarman Dollah, 42, another changemaker, said he volunteered because he wants to continue contributing his knowledge to help the pupils who were missing out.

Safarman, who is also a teacher at a rural school in Perak, said these pupils have the potential to succeed in their studies.

“I rent a house in a village and always hang out with my parents and pupils. Most of my pupils are from the B40 group,” he said.

“During the MCO when schools were closed, many children spent their time just hanging out or playing in the nearby river.

“I thought to myself that if I could teach a few of them, I would be able to help them.

Safarman said his effort also received support from the villagers who offered a place to be used as a classroom – a hut in front of the mosque with tables, chairs and a fan. – March 9, 2021.