Community Class Offers Pos Pasik Children Positive Impact In Education

GUA MUSANG, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- Children of the Orang Asli community in Pos Pasik are now no longer at risk of falling behind in their education following the sensational success of a Community Class in Kampung Sugi C.

The Pos Pasik Community Class, which was established in June 2023 through the initiative of a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), began operating a year ago with the enrolment of 16 five-year-old students from the Temiar tribe.

Legacy Trustee chief executive officer Geoffrey Teo said the establishment of the class was aimed at raising awareness among the Orang Asli community about the importance of education and ensuring that their children do not drop out of school.

"We appointed teachers from among the local residents to teach the students here. Since this class has been operating, the attendance record has been very satisfactory and their learning performance has also improved.

"We also provide pocket-money as motivation for them to go to school diligently. This effort has proven worthwhile because it helps the community here improve their social status,” he told reporters at Pos Pasik today.

Geoffrey said his team also plans to build several basic infrastructure for the convenience of the local residents.

According to him, RM50,000 was spent last year to repair the infrastructure in the settlement, including the Pos Pasik Community Class.

“We will add the necessary facilities. I believe this is a good collaboration between the private sector and the government in looking after the welfare of this group,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Community Class teacher, Siti Aminah Ariffin, 31, said the class being run is able to highlight the potential of Orang Asli children in the area.

“Their development is very encouraging compared to when they first enrolled. Now they can recognise numbers and letters, and have even been given early exposure to the basics of the English language.

“I hope this effort can provide sufficient (pre-school) preparation for them to enter primary school later and not fall behind in their learning,” he said.

Chairman of the Orang Asli Village Development and Security Committee (JPKKOA) of Pos Pasik, Jimi Arifin, gave the thumbs-up to the Community Class, saying that its existence has had a positive impact on the education of the children there.

“I am grateful to all parties who are concerned to ensure that our children do not fall behind in their education. We can see that they are so enthusiastic about attending class every day and are not even shy about using the English words they have learned. This is a very good sign,” he said.

-- BERNAMA