(Top row, from left) Elias, Edward, Paul, (middle row, from left) Samuel, Dr John, Rafael, (bottom row, from left) Wilfred, Michael and Romuald.
MIRI (June 30): Eight local non-government organisations (NGOs) expressed their objection to former Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid’s suggestion to suspend students who did not attend their online classes conducted through the home-based teaching and learning method (PdPR) three days in a row.
In a joint press statement, the eight NGOs said many students in Sarawak would be badly affected if such suggestion is adopted and implemented by the Ministry of Education(MoE).
The NGOs comprised of Dayak Think Tank Association Sarawak (DTTAS) represented by its president Elias Lipi Mat and deputy president Edward Awan; Dayak National Congress (DNC) president Paul Raja; Persatuan Iban Sarawak (Pais) president, Samuel Suring; Persatuan Balang Balai Nyabong (BBN) secretary general Dr John Brian; Persatuan Dayak Iban Sarawak (Sadia) Miri secretary Rafael Dru; Persatuan Terabai Menua Sarawak president Wilfred Nissem; Society for Rights of Indigenous People of Sarawak (SCRIPS) secretary Michael M Jok and Persatuan Jaringan Tanah Hal Adat Bangsa Asal Sarawak (Tahabas) president Romuald Siew.
They described the suggestion as insensitive and without any concern for the situation of students in Sarawak, particularly those in rural areas who are lacked of suitable electronic devices and suffering as a result of poor internet connection and basic amenities like electricity supply.
“We must admit that many of our children are unable to follow PdPR (sessions) not only due to poor or unavailable internet connection, but also because they cannot afford suitable gadgets for the purpose.
“These issues came up because of logistic problem in Sarawak and poor internet access, as well as lacked of technology for students and teachers. All these are burden to the parents,” they pointed out.
They also said that if the students were suspended, this would effect the effectiveness of the PdPR itself throughout this Movement Control Order (MCO) and Covid-19 pandemic.
The NGOs pointed out that there were plenty of rural children who were unable to attend their online classes due to poor and unsatisfactory internet access, apart from having dilapidated schools and without 24 hours electricity supply.
“MOE should have prepared early plans to handle this communication crisis in schools during this Covid-19 pandemic. It is hard to imagine the challenges and struggles they face everyday, but our educators in schools remain optimistic and committed in realising their mission to educate and mould our children into successful adults.
“Therefore, we find the suggestion to suspend students who did not attend their PdPR classes three days in a row, as insensitive to current situation where students are struggling to attended their PdPR classes during this MCO. The move to suspend them is conservative and an old way of thinking by education officers during the Japanese era ages ago,” they said.
Apart from ensuring that there are good internet coverage throughout the country, they said the government should also provide suitable gadgets for students based on their level of education such as primary or secondary schools and higher learning institutions.