Students from Kampung Sawai followed their PdPR sessions from a boat in this photo taken from a video shared by Gna Muda in his Facebook account
MATU (June 30): Poor internet access has forced three students living in Kampung Sawai here to follow their Teaching and Learning at Home (PdPR) sessions in a boat during heavy rain in Sungai Sawai near Batang Lassa yesterday.
The matter was brought to light after videos of the three students attending their PdPR sessions went viral after a Facebook user Gna Muda shared them on the social media platform.
Utusan Borneo managed to contact the owner of the Facebook account and had spoken directly with the elder brother of one of the students.
According to 19-year-old Carry Alwind Sahren, his sister Danniella Inez, 17, and their two cousins had been attending online classes in a boat since the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) last year.
Danniella is a Form Five student at SMK Batang Igan, while her two cousins, Nick Nazuel Juria, 16 and Sherly Erina, 19, are students at MRSM Betong and Mukah Polytechnic.
He said the lack of internet access at home had made it difficult for the students to complete and submit their school work, especially the ones that needed to be submitted promptly.
“That is their daily routine if there are online classes or PdPR since the MCO last year.
“From our house, they have to travel between five and 10 minutes using the boat to reach a nearby spot along the riverbank where internet coverage is available.
“They used umbrellas to shelter from the weather. Sometimes they have to study in wet clothes when it rains heavily,” he said.
Carry’s cousin Sherly had to complete her assignment on a boat in heavy rain today.
Carry said his mother and siblings would manoeuvre the boat and accompany the three students during their PdPR sessions.
“Other than my brother and two cousins, there are other students following their PdPR sessions at the same spot,” said Carry who is currently studying at Mara Skills Institute (IKM) Bintulu.
He said Danniella, Nick and Sherly previously stayed at their school hostel but had to return home due to MCO.
“Since then, the internet problem has been the biggest challenge for them to follow the online classes.
“The internet coverage at the riverbank area where they followed online classes is available but the reception is weak.
“This situation makes it difficult for them to follow the PdPR sessions well and comfortably,” he said.
A student from Kampung Sawai braved the rain to follow a PdPR session.
In order for them to get a better internet access, he said they had to go to the Matu town which is located about one hour and 30 minutes from their village.
Nonetheless, Carry was proud of the enthusiasm and perseverance shown by his sister and their two cousins to keep up with others in their studies.
However, he was always worried about their safety when thinking about the danger and risks they had to face while following online classes in the boat.
“The river is infested by crocodiles and this is what worries me the most every time when they go to the riverbank.
“Besides that, when the outboard engine breaks down, it will cause them to miss their classes,” he said.