IPOH: Despite having traded in his chalk and textbooks more than a decade ago, a retired teacher has never truly stopped teaching.
Aged 72, the retiree, who wished to be known only as Cikgu Alex, is not teaching at schools or tuition centres, but instead in the interiors at Kampung Orang Asli Sinju in Simpang Pulai.
The former teacher travels to the village twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, to teach Orang Asli children.
“I came to know about the village many years ago during a charity excursion.
“I would then travel there on and off to bring them foodstuff and other necessities,” he said when met recently.
“In 2023, I found that their conditions had not improved, so I thought I could teach their children basic literacy and numeracy skills.
“Once they know how to read, write and count, it will help them. I really want to see them change for the better,” he added.
When asked what motivated him to dedicate himself to teaching the Orang Asli, Cikgu Alex said, “I just want to help them. You could call it love”.
The retiree said he would teach the children Bahasa Malaysia and mathematics.
“After a while, five volunteers, including a retired university lecturer, a pastor and his wife, and a social worker, joined me in teaching the children,” he said, adding that the children, aged between four and 16, also learn English.
“Another Orang Asli senior citizen will help clean and do gardening when we are there,” he added.
He said it was quite challenging trying to teach the Orang Asli at first.
“They are very cautious of strangers and take some time to trust outsiders.
“Sometimes they would show up, and sometimes they won’t,” he said, adding that the villagers have in recent years relocated 2km uphill to Kampung Orang Asli Kelapa Baru from Kampung Orang Asli Sinju.
“They once skipped class out of fear of spirits, and we hiked to their homes to learn that someone had died,” he added.
Before starting the classes, the Orang Asli children will be treated to breakfast, funded by the retiree’s friends.
“The classes will then be held for about two hours,” he said.
“We used to have about 20 children, but now only 10 remain,” Cikgu Alex added.
The retiree hopes the government could build a small building and send in teachers to educate the Orang Asli children.
“If the Health Department could send medical officers there regularly for health checks, perhaps the Education Department could also arrange for something similar,” he said, adding that it takes less than half an hour from Simpang Pulai to reach the village.
