KOTA KINABALU: A bad internet connection, a lack of gadgets and other hindrances to online classes during this movement control order are not stopping determined teachers from ensuring their students keep up with their studies.
One teacher - SK Logongon Pensiangan headmaster Anis Pangias - is providing hardcopies of the modules and is asking parents to take them from the schools.
He said that due to the location of the school, it is only accessible by boat rides and four-wheel drive vehicles and teachers must therefore prepare at least a few days worth of materials for parents to collect.
“Due to the MCO, there is also a strict timing set for parents to collect study materials for their children, ” he said.
For those with handphones or laptops, he said they can access the materials online even though the connection is slow most of the time.
“But we must make do with what we can, ” Anis said, adding more than half of the 187 Primary 1 to 6 pupils in his school are not able to access the internet.
Anis added that although teachers are available to answer questions from parents with regards to their children’s schoolwork, the problem is that many do not own decent hand-phones.
He said they have mobile phones that are not able to access the internet and are also limited on credit, which means they make sure that their calls or texts are for urgent and important matters first.
In Penampang, SK Longkogungan teacher Harry Yanto Bikal is also using similar
methods to get study materials across to the school's nine pupils.
“Although we only have nine pupils this year, we will still make sure that everyone gets the study materials they need, ” he said.
He said six of their pupils have internet access at home so they have no trouble with their online studies but for three, their parents have to collect their materials every day.
“Luckily, the parents work as security guards at the school so it’s an easy task for them, ” Harry said.
He said due to the small number of pupils to handle, teachers are able to set up modules according to the student’s level of understanding.
He said the modules are structured and designed to fit each student's ability to understand the lessons and their main focus is to make sure each pupil gets a good grasp of the basics.
“We are also available when they need to ask us questions via phone calls as well, ” Harry said.
With the MCO in effect and most students having their classes online at home, many have gone to the internet to share their struggles to keep up amidst bad internet connections and a lack of gadgets to share among siblings.
Some had to climb up a hill in Kudat while some have to study on a sampan in Beaufort because they get better internet connection by doing so.
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