Into the Kampung!!
Today had been a very exciting day. For the first time in my teaching life, I and my colleagues went to Kg. Binakaan for a brief gathering with the students and their parents. It was our principal's idea, and although we have to sacrifice our weekend, it was worth it.
Kg. Binakaan is situated about 7km from our school. Well, it sounds near but the poor road condition (laterit plus stone = go figure...grubble!!) made it almost impossible to reach the village within minutes compared to a properly asphalt-ed road. No wonder my students were sometimes "dusty"!
The primary school is small but beautiful. I think it's my first time being inside a kampong school...it feels so nostalgic. After the formalities (speeches and award-giving aside), it's time for us to meet the parents. I met Tiffany's, Cecilia's, Binidik's, Lawrence's, Hendry's and Elister's parents and guardians. We talked and discussed about the children and I couldn't help but share with you a little dialogue that transpired between me and Binindik's mother :
Me : Kakak, kasi suru lah si Binidik ni membaca buku bahasa melayu atau inggilis 15 minit setiap hari la supaya dia buli berlatih membaca...
Binidik's Mum :(while chewing her bettlenut) Iyalah...ada juga sia suru dia basa basa di rumah...selalu juga dia pi mengajar kakak dia membasa itu bukuh bukuh...
It took me a while to process that membasa is reading...I thought she asked him to main basah-basah or something..:-P
Our brief adventure into the village reminds me that sometimes as teachers, we must not forget to walk in our students' footsteps. Sometimes, I can't understand why X arrived in school late, dirty, smelly, slow but somehow this short trip opened up my eyes that these students are the real heroes. They showed up in the midst of poverty, despite being deprived of what their peers in the city have. They have a strong will to learn but they are very delicate...an insensitive criticism can make them run back to their shell.
I heard we're going to have another program like this with another remote school in Sook.
BRING IT ON!!!
The road to Binakaan.
Our "troops".
My students : Tiffany (in pinafore) and Cecilia.
My students : Binidik (in purple shirt), Lawrence, Hendry (one row behind, far right) and Elister (hidden by another student's head)
Teachers in Live action! Cuba kamu cari mana saya? hehehe
Class teachers who missed their graduation moments hahaha...
Our discipline teacher and his "followers" ;-P
The road condition from our school to the village. My students do not go on the typical yellow school buses, they have to charter a car and pay rm50 monthly for that. Sometimes, these children will not be able to go to school if the car has problems e.g. tyre punctured, rusak dan sebagainya.
Some of the families who attended the programme.
Pleasant weekend everyone! <3
