Failures of online learning keep fears of ‘lost generation’ alive

SANDAKAN – With online learning dragging on for months and the pandemic showing no signs of abating, students here are no longer motivated to follow their classes.

Since the first movement control order (MCO) was imposed in March last year, schools in Sabah have been forced to shut several times and have adopted some form of online learning for about 10 months and counting.

Voo Rong Teng, a Form 3 student in Ranau, said he feels that he does not learn anything in his online classes.

“My classmates and I all feel the same. We all feel like the PdPR (home-based learning and teaching) is just a process that we have to go through to satisfy the system. We are hardly learning anything now.   

“We are all just waiting for physical classes to resume and, hopefully, we can catch up then.” 

Voo said he misses going to school and prefers face-to-face classes.

Another Form 3 student in Sandakan, Simon Wee, shared similar sentiments, saying he prefers working over attending classes online.

“I know that I have to miss my online classes because of this but I feel like I can afford to miss them as I don’t gain a lot from them.

“Also, usually, more than half of the class don’t attend the classes, so I don’t see why I have to join them.”

Wee said, while he is aware that education is important, he feels that, because he is not the only one left behind in his studies, he will be able to catch up alongside other students when schools reopen.

Teachers losing motivation

Sandra Abdullah*, a secondary school mathematics teacher in Sandakan, said she has tried all sorts of ways to make her online classes more interesting, but they have not been fruitful.

“There is no use getting creative in online classes when the students don’t attend it.

“We have to face it: the reason for this is that the students have started to lose interest in their studies. No matter what teachers do, we cannot force the students to participate in online learning if they don’t want to.”

A chemistry teacher at SMK Tongod, Mohd Sobrie Lamudin, echoed Sandra’s opinion, saying the biggest challenge teachers face with the PdPR is the students’ motivation.

“No matter how excellent a teacher or an educator is, if the student is not motivated to learn, it will still be pointless. It all depends on the student,” he said.

Sobrie added that the PdPR would be more effective, not only if there is full cooperation from the students, but full internet coverage and if all parents are able to afford digital devices and internet data as well.

“Sadly, this is impossible for my students as we have limited internet connection in Tongod,” he said.

Sobrie said he hopes parents will motivate and encourage their children to participate in online classes and make time for their lessons, especially if they are required to self-study through offline learning.

Offline learning in the PdPR refers to students who are unable to attend online classes and have to complete educational modules sent to them by their teachers.

Double duty for parents 

Mandy Yapp, a primary school science teacher in Beaufort, said that the best approach for primary school pupils aged 7 to 12 is hands-on teaching.

“I also find it difficult to teach all students in a class without neglecting those who may be slower than the rest. This is avoidable in face-to-face classes.   

“As a result, some students started losing interest in studying, and this is also impacting teachers. Seeing our students demotivated makes us feel demotivated as well,” she said.

Yapp said that students who are guided by their parents are following her classes well, while those without guidance are falling further behind each day.   

“As a parent myself, I understand that this situation is unavoidable because some parents have to work and might not have time to guide their children.   

“That is why, I feel that the sooner schools can reopen, the sooner I can start working on helping my students catch up with their studies.”

New approach needed

Meanwhile, former education minister Maszlee Malik said in the new norm, non-conventional approaches are needed to bolster the education system.

“We cannot take the future of children’s education lightly. Our stubbornness to listen to expert advice and continuing to use failed approaches will only leave our country and people’s future in shambles.

“There is an urgent need for the Education Ministry (MoE) to re-evaluate its decision to resume the online approach on a larger scale.

“Managing online classes is difficult for educators and students, to the extent that some are forced to find a river or climb a hill to obtain internet access. Why does the MoE want to trouble parents, educators and students when the MoE has other more suitable options for our environment?” he said in a statement shared with The Vibes last Saturday.

Maszlee said the MoE should discuss with state education departments and relevant district education offices, especially in rural Sabah and Sarawak areas that are in green zones, about granting them permission to reopen schools with the advice of the Health Ministry.

“Currently, children in rural areas are the worst impacted by the pandemic. Many are unable to participate in online learning because of poor or no internet access.

“They are the most affected and left behind, compared with the rest. Bold action must be taken to ensure these children do not drop out of school.” – The Vibes, July 13, 2021

* name has been changed