Two sisters who dropped out four years ago return to school

BUTTERWORTH, Aug 11 (Bernama) -- A mother could not express her happiness and emotions when her two daughters received letters of offer to return to school after dropping out four years ago, when the family faced financial and health problems.

The 54-year-old woman, who only wanted to be known as Lisa, said they had always faced financial difficulties and that things worsened last year when her left leg was amputated due to diabetes and her husband died of COVID-19.

"My husband used to work as a tourist guide and taxi driver but had to stop due to the uncertain economic situation at that time. Then he worked as a part-time real estate agent and so on.

"At that time, the car always broke down in the middle of the road, so we decided to sell it. The lack of transport to send the children to school and financial problems forced us to stop sending them to school," she recalled when met at her home here today.

The two sisters, Yumn Nakyeishaa Amir Hamzah, 16, and Dahnea Dabryshaa Amir Hamzah, 14, also expressed their happiness at finally being able to continue their studies in school.

"All this while, both of us rely only on Google and Youtube to make references when learning but it wasn’t much of a help because there was no teacher to guide us," said the elder sister who had previously attended SJK Aik Keow, Telok Air Tawar.

Penang state Education Department's chief assistant director Datuk Zulkafli Kamaruddin today handed the letters of offer to the two siblings to attend SMK Kampong Kastam.

Meanwhile, Bagan Jermal state assemblyman Soon Lip Chee who was also present said he would channel assistance to the two sisters to attend tuition and help them keep up with the progress of their studies after missing four years of school.

"We have provided food, laptops, reference books, stationery, school bags and also financial assistance of RM1,000 each," Soon said.

-- BERNAMA