GEORGE TOWN: Single mother M. Paruvethy wants her children to have an education but some of them are keen to follow in the footsteps of their elder brothers and stop schooling to help support the family.
Four of her eight children, aged between eight and 12, are still in primary school.
“It is important that they remain in school for a better future,” she said when met at her flat in Bandar Baru Air Itam yesterday.
“One of my sons left school to earn RM600 as a restaurant worker.
“There’s no better prospect for him for now but he’s not regretting his decision to stop schooling.
“We live on what little we have,” said Paruvethy, 33.
Her eldest son, 17, works as a security guard while the second son, 16, is a restaurant worker.
Paruvethy’s eldest daughter, 18, has married while Paruvethy’s mother is caring for another daughter who is a 13-year-old special child.
M. Eswaran, the restaurantworker, said it was a tough struggle to send all the children to school.
“I want my siblings to have a better life and we are doing whatever we can to put them through school.
“It is difficult because thing are now so expensive but we will try,” he said.
Paruvethy takes the four children to school by Rapid bus as she can ill afford the school bus fares.
“The school bus fare for one child alone is RM100.
“It is worrying for them to travel alone so I accompany them on the bus until they reach school.”
Penang Hindu Association deputy president P. Murugiah said it was common for poor children to stop schooling because of finances.
He urged the state government to do more for needy families.
“Assemblyman and Members of Parliament as well as the Education Department should help needy students,” he said.
“A study on poverty in Penang should be carried out and the state government should organise more programmes that can help eradicate poverty,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
