Tamil parents breathe easy children back in school after e-learning pains

KUALA LUMPUR – Yesterday marked another milestone for primary school pupils as those in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 made their way back to school, after those in Years 1 and 2 were allowed back last week following strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) set by the Education Ministry.

Parents could be seen being advised by security guards at SJK (T) Vivekananda in Petaling Jaya to line up before being let into the school one by one.

Kokila Murugan and her husband, Vijendran Perumal, who live in the Desa Mentari People’s Housing Project, have three children – aged 12, 11 and 8 – currently attending the school.

“We are happy that all three are back in school, as they had to share one phone for their e-learning sessions. We are both working shifts, so there is only one phone at any one time,” said Vijendran.

A father who wished to be known as Suren said he could not afford Wi-Fi packages for online learning as he lost his job last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and is only working part-time now.

“When we have to feed our children first, we can’t afford Wi-Fi for them.”

Suren said he is glad things are back to normal, even though there are SOPs in place for parents and children.

Another parent, who wished to be identified as Selvam, said it is a sorry state of affairs that although B40 families are promised laptops, nothing has materialised, and low-income parents have been left in the lurch. 

“My daughter has been managing (online classes) with my phone. But that means when I go to work, I have to leave my phone with her. So I am unable to use my phone for work purposes.”

Funds lacking for IT facilities

During the Budget 2021 announcement on November 6 last year, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz announced a RM150 million fund to purchase 150,000 laptops for students in 500 schools nationwide. However, the laptops have yet to be disbursed.

Kumari, a teacher in a Tamil vernacular school in Kajang, said Tamil schools generally do not receive sufficient allocation to upgrade their facilities, such as IT facilities and audio-visual equipment, for pupils.

“Over the years, Tamil schools have not kept up with other schools, as the poorer families in Tamil schools cannot raise funds to purchase these facilities under their parent-teacher associations.

“Tamil schools need the government’s help to ensure the students keep up with the more well-funded schools.”

It was reported in December that the government will slash its allocation for Tamil schools by 40% this year.

Compared with the RM50 million allocated for them last year, Tamil schools will receive only RM29.98 million to cover administrative costs this year.

Up till November 25, the government has spent only RM38.62 million for 308 Tamil schools. 

According to Deputy Education Minister I Muslimin Yahaya, the funds cannot be used for the purchase of any IT equipment as it is not considered administrative.

Unlike Chinese schools, which have become popular among Malays and Indians as they are active in fundraising and other related activities, Tamil school student populations have declined, as families are moving to urban areas for jobs and better housing. 

At present, of the 527 Tamil schools nationwide, 26 have fewer than 10 students. – The Vibes, March 9, 2021